Blind Man, 34, Can Now See After Having His Tooth Implanted in His Eye

Modern science sometimes blows the mind. A very rare and unique surgery has restored vision to a blind man by implanting his own tooth into his eye.

Lost Vision: Due to an allergic reaction to ibuprofen, Brent Chapman, 34, of North Vancouver, Canada, lost his vision. Since the age of 13, he has been blind, desperately seeking a way to restore his sight. But he had no luck until one doctor suggested a very outlandish treatment.

Using a flattened tooth from Chapman, affixing a lens to it, and embedding it into his eye, the doctor believed he could bring back his sight.. It sounds like something from a horror movie, and yet, it has worked in the past.

Chapman decided to give it a go, and after a long multi-stage procedure, he could see again. Vision was restored with 20/40 or 20/30 in the eye on which the procedure was done.

• “When Dr. Moloney and I made eye contact, we both just burst into tears. I hadn’t really made eye contact in 20 years,” he told People.

Straight From Science Fiction

Even Chapman couldn’t believe his ears when being told about the tooth in eye procedure that would return his vision. It all seemed too far-fetched, but he went along with it anyway.

• “Usually, the reaction is shock and surprise and frank disbelief that it [the procedure] even exists,” the doctor said. “It kind of sounded a little science fictiony. I was like, ‘Who thought of this? Like, this is so crazy,” the patent told Today.

The process: Tooth in eye surgery makes you question just how someone even came up with the process. It’s complex and makes no sense to someone without a huge brain.

• The front of the eye lens is removed, and a piece of the inside of the patient’s cheek is placed on top.
• A tooth is then removed from the patient’s mouth and has a lens embedded in it.
• The tooth is then introduced to the inside of the cheek of the patient so it can develop a blood supply.
• The tooth is then removed and placed into the eye of the blind patient, restoring their sight.

If it sounds insane, it’s because it is. But, somehow, it works.