Vancouver resident Brent Chapman lost his vision at the age of 13 due to Stevens-Johnson syndrome, an extremely rare allergic reaction to ibuprofen. For 20 years, he sought various treatments without success.
In 2025, he consulted Dr. Greg Moloney, an ophthalmologist at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital. Dr. Moloney suggested a rare medical procedure called Osteo-Odonto-Keratoprosthesis (OOKP), also known as the "tooth-in-eye" implant.
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Brent Chapman of Canada recovers 5/10 vision after eye surgery in early September 2025. Photo: abc7NY/Youtube |
Brent Chapman of Canada recovers 5/10 vision after eye surgery in early September 2025. Photo: abc7NY/Youtube
The procedure involves extracting one of the patient's teeth, flattening and drilling a hole in it to accommodate an artificial lens. This tooth segment, now housing the lens, is then implanted in the eye, allowing the patient to see through it. According to Dr. Moloney, using the patient's own tooth minimizes the risk of rejection.
Developed in the 1960s, OOKP has been performed on several hundred people worldwide. "At first, I thought it sounded like science fiction," Chapman said.
The results exceeded expectations. Waking up after the surgery in early September, Chapman could see his hand. After recovery, his right eye's vision reached 5/10.
Chapman recounted the emotional moment he first saw Dr. Moloney's face. "I haven't really made eye contact with anyone for 20 years," he said, tearing up.
Minh Phuong (People)
