Eyes and teeth… eyes?
A Canadian woman has seen a partial restoration of her vision after undergoing an unusual surgery that involved implanting her teeth into her left eye socket.
Seventy-five-year-old Gail Lane is one of three Canadians to receive this rare procedure, informally referred to as dental eye surgery. She lost her sight about a decade ago due to an autoimmune disorder that severely affected her cornea.
In an interview with CBC, Lane shared that the first thing she saw was a lighter shade, followed by the tail of her partner’s service dog, a black lab named Piper. She noted that her vision has been steadily improving since the surgery.
“I can see a lot of colors, and now I can see outside,” Lane expressed. “Trees, grass, and flowers—it’s a wonderful feeling to see them again.”
About six months post-surgery, she was finally able to see the face of her significant other, Phil, whom she had met after losing her sight.
Dr. Greg Moloney, an ophthalmologist at Mount St. Joseph’s Hospital in Vancouver, was the first to bring this unique operation to Canada.
He explained that the process starts with the extraction of a tooth, which is then implanted in the cheek for several months, allowing it to be surrounded by strong connective tissue.
In Lane’s case, the tooth was one of her “eye” teeth, as it was aptly nicknamed.
Once the tooth and tissue are ready, they are removed from the cheek, and a lens or a small telescope is attached to a drilled hole. This assembly is then sewn into the eye socket.
“It’s a complicated and strange operation, but it fundamentally involves altering the cornea,” Moloney stated. The objective is to make the tissue strong enough to support a plastic lens while ensuring it isn’t rejected by the body.
Describing the recovery process, Moloney mentioned it was unpleasant but not excessively painful.
Lane conveyed her excitement about regaining mobility and independence. “I hope to take more short trips and walk around without always needing to hold onto someone’s arm,” she said.
“I’m trying to be patient and explore what I can do again. It’s crucial to stay patient during this journey.”
Lane also mentioned she would soon be getting new glasses to further enhance her vision, adding, “I’m starting to notice facial features in other people too, which is pretty thrilling.”
