Category: News and Views
Taken from: http://www.efitnessnow.com/news/2009/09/17/women-has-tooth-implanted-in-eye-to-restore-vision/
In a first on U.S. soil, a team of doctors implanted Sharron “Kay” Thornton’s tooth inside her eye, which holds a prosthetic lens in place. The rare procedure is known as Modified Osteo-Odonto-Keratoprosthesis.
“I can see people in the audience. I can see your figures,” said Thorton, who can now see 20/70.
Thornton, 60, went blind nine years ago from an uncommon disorder called Stevens-Johnson syndrome. The disorder left the surface of her eyes so badly scarred she was legally blind. However, medical experts determined the inside of her eyes were still working enough that she could one day see with the help of MOOKP. MOOKP was created in Italy in 1963 and has been used with success in Europe and Japan.
Corneal specialist Dr Victor L Perez lead the team of doctors in a series of surgeries that involved implanting one of Thornton’s teeth in her eye:
To execute the difficult surgery, the doctors took out Thornton’s eyetooth. Thornton’s eyetooth was chosen because it had a good amount of jawbone and ligament attached, which are crucial for it to stay alive and heal into the eye after being implanted. After the tooth was sculpted, a hole was drilled through the tooth to insert a cylindrical optical lens. The combined tooth and lens were implanted in Thornton’s shoulder so that they became fully integrated.
A tooth is used, Perez said, since it supplies a stable, living platform of tooth, bone and cartilage that can stay alive, get nutrition from the eye and grow into a single piece with the cornea.
scweemishness says ahg! But no, seriously, that's cool. Amazing
few years ago my family explore this option for me. there's a doctor in Singapore specialize in cornea area, in particular this. i think, he's one of the very few that can actually perform this surgery in the world.
it is very complecated process, it could take up to 12 months for the whole surgery to be done.
outwardly it look scarry, cause you're looking a tooth in an eye.
it is a huge break thru for some people to restore eyesight, but not for those that is born with blind, as the percentage is very low, and very expendsive. but its definitely a great option for people that is blind cause by accident, or cause by other external factor.
but, definitely not an option for me, as i'm born with sight problem, as well as it would be too painful to go thru the whole process.
I wonder what the eye looks like to someone looking at her. Ah well, if it restored her vision to 20/70, which is pretty damn close to normal vision, I guess she doesn't care.
Hey lady you got a tooth in your eye. Ew. But at the same time very interesting.
i've met some of the patients that had the surgery when i was having my eye treatement. according to my dad, they look horible. cause, you can see a teeth in their eye. my dad joke, and said, it looks like monster...
my doctor did suggest this surgery as an option for me when it just came out few years ago. he's one of the prime research in this area. but, the whole construction/process simply pull me off, because, in my case, born without any sight at all, the success rate of having vision, is limited. i don't think its worth the gamble. the whole process takes about 1/2 years time, with multiple surgery involve within that period. surgery includes, teeth, mouth, face, and eyes. also, it require lots of time in the hospital, and cost a fortune...
i simply not ready with the idea, even though my parents were keen with it.
if your blindness cost by other sorce beside born with blind or genetic issue, the chance of restoring the eyesight thru this surgery is very high. however, if you are born with blind or blind thru genetic issue, there's a weak chance on what the surgery can really do you good. however, with all these, this is a high risk process
Have people with stage five retinopathy of prematurity undergone this procedure, and where can I read more testimonials from people who've had it done?
I couldn't do it, but that's just me.
the surgery was done at bascom palmer lyche, at jackson memeorial hospital in miami. i had my eye surgery done there. for me, there in nothing they can do with this proceedure, nore withe bioni eye, or retnal transplant. i have three major things wrong with my eye. macular degeneration, vascular glocoma, and forget the other. but, as the previous poster stated if you can afford it. go for it! good luck! p.s. this year, a technology developed at the university of madison, called brainspotting will releas a gadget which uses the tongue to capture images and transferes them to the brain. thus, regardless of your eye condition, you will be able to see some objects at a, i think 18 pixel resolution.