Blind Canadian Man Regains Sight After Rare “Tooth-in-Eye” Surgery (video)

Brent Chapman lost his vision at 13 years old after experiencing a rare allergic reaction

A man from North Vancouver has regained his vision for the first time in more than 20 years after undergoing a rare “tooth-in-eye” surgery.

Brent Chapman, 34, lost his sight at age 13 after suffering from Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a rare allergic reaction to ibuprofen that left him blind in both eyes. For over two decades, he pursued multiple treatments, but none provided lasting results.

Chapman eventually connected with Dr. Greg Moloney, an ophthalmologist at Providence Health Care’s Mount Saint Joseph Hospital in Vancouver, who recommended a procedure officially known as osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis. Developed in the 1960s and performed only a few hundred times worldwide, the surgery involves several complex steps.

A patient’s tooth is extracted, flattened, and drilled to create a hole in which a prosthetic lens is placed. The tooth and lens are then implanted into the eye, allowing vision through the artificial lens. Using the patient’s own tooth reduces the risk of rejection by the body.

Chapman admitted that when he first heard about the procedure, it “sounded a little science fictiony.” But after surgery on his right eye, he could immediately perceive movement and later achieved 20/40 to 20/30 vision.

“I feel fantastic. Vision comes back, and it’s a whole new world,” Chapman said. The emotional moment of making eye contact with Dr. Moloney for the first time in 20 years brought both of them to tears.

The groundbreaking success has given Chapman renewed hope and a new lease on life.