Man Regains Sight After Rare Dental Surgery

When Brent Chapman was just 13, he took ibuprofen during a basketball game on Christmas. He had used it before, but then he experienced an unexpected and severe reaction. This led to burns covering much of his body, including his eyes.

Chapman ended up in a coma for 27 days, during which he lost his left eye to an infection and most of the vision in his right eye. His body eventually healed, but his vision never recovered completely.

“Over the past 20 years, I’ve undergone nearly 50 surgeries to try to save my right eye, mostly cornea transplants,” he shared. “We’d replace the cornea, and while it might last for a few months or sometimes even years, it was never able to fully heal.”

This year, however, Dr. Greg Moloney, a clinical associate professor of corneal surgery at the University of British Columbia, managed to restore Chapman’s sight through a unique procedure. This involved implanting a piece of Chapman’s tooth into his eye.

“I’m so happy. It’s like I’m experiencing the world anew, appreciating all the little things. It feels surreal, almost euphoric,” Chapman expressed.

The procedure, known as tooth-in-eye or osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis, entails extracting a tooth of the patient. A piece of it is sewn into the cheek, and then the structure is placed into the eye.

Dr. Vicente Diaz, an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Yale, explained that such surgery is typically seen as a last resort. He treats patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a rare and sometimes lethal drug reaction responsible for Chapman’s blindness.

This syndrome leads to extreme inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes, including the eyes. In some cases, the immune system can damage the limbal stem cells, which are crucial for keeping the cornea clear. Without them, the cornea can become scarred, making it nearly impossible for light to pass through.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome can arise from various medications or infections, though some drugs—like those for seizures or certain antibiotics—carry a higher risk. Additionally, genetic factors can contribute, so it can develop even after previous safe exposures.

Tooth for Vision

In a healthy eye, the cornea allows light to reach the lens and ultimately the retina, where it’s converted into signals for the brain. The clarity of the cornea relies on proper lubrication and the ongoing renewal of cells from limbal stem cells. Unfortunately, in cases like Chapman’s, these mechanisms can fail.

If the cornea becomes permanently opaque and transplant options are exhausted, surgeons may consider the tooth-in-eye surgery.

This process requires extracting a canine tooth—the longest tooth in the mouth—along with supporting bone. The tooth is then carved into a small block and modified to accommodate a plastic optical cylinder, explained Dr. Ben Kang, Chapman’s oral maxillofacial surgeon.

The modified tooth, now fitted with the lens, is implanted in the cheek or eyelid for a few months. This allows soft tissues to grow around it.

“The tooth is a great structure for holding the lens in place,” Moloney commented. “It’s durable, its rigid nature helps it withstand harsh environments, and since it comes from the patient, the body accepts it readily.”

The next stage involves making an opening in the front of the eye to fit this new structure. Once integrated, the tooth lens is surgically attached to the front of the eye, taking over the cornea’s function. Tissue from the patient’s mouth is used to cover the tooth portion, adding a natural pink hue. With luck, light can then again reach the retina, allowing vision if the underlying conditions are healthy.

Moloney mentioned that candidates for this surgery typically fall into two categories: those who have exhausted all other options or those so severely affected that alternatives aren’t viable.

This surgery, which often exceeds 12 hours over two stages, is rare and performed by only a few specialists around the world, but for those who qualify, the outcome can significantly improve vision.

“It’s like watching someone emerge from a time capsule back into the world,” Moloney noted, saying it’s a highly emotional experience for everyone involved.

Chapman had his tooth extracted in February and had it placed into his eye by June. His most recent surgery, which corrected visual distortion, was on August 5.

Rediscovering Connections

Chapman got fitted for glasses on August 13 and now sees with 20/30 vision, meaning he can perceive details at 20 feet that a person with perfect sight would see at 30 feet.

The first image he recalled after his surgery was the skyline from Dr. Moloney’s office on the 16th floor.

“It’s hard to describe, seeing the whole city—a whole world intersecting. When you can’t see, you’re more trapped in your own thoughts. The emotional weight can be intense.” He found this significant moment when he made eye contact with Dr. Moloney after two decades of not being able to do so.

Before this procedure, there were times when Chapman felt hopeless.

“We were really out of options. The transplants started to become riskier, and even when I’d get a new one, I knew it wouldn’t last long. This feels like a new chapter in my life,” he reflected.

He’s now eager to travel, with Japan at the top of his wish list, but his main goal is simply to explore and soak it all in.

As for family, Chapman particularly loves watching his niece and nephew, ages 4 and 2. “They’re absolutely adorable and so much fun,” he remarked.

He’s also a massage therapist and looks forward to returning to work, especially after being out for so long. “I want to help others in pain; it’s a shift away from focusing solely on myself, which is important for my mental well-being,” he noted.

Ultimately, Chapman expressed excitement about dreaming again without the constraints that his condition imposed. He shared how previous fears of needing emergency surgeries made planning for the future difficult, often leading to disappointment.

“Visual human connection is something many take for granted, but it means a lot for those of us with vision issues,” he concluded.

“We’ve witnessed Brent grow from a teenager to the man he is today. It’s been a long wait for him to reclaim this,” Dr. Moloney said, reflecting on the journey together.