Overview
- Brent Chapman, 34, lost his vision after developing Stevens–Johnson syndrome at age 13 following an adverse reaction to ibuprofen and underwent nearly 50 unsuccessful eye surgeries.
- In a staged osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis this year, surgeons removed a canine tooth in February, implanted the tooth–lens device in his eye in June, and performed a final adjustment on 5 August.
- With glasses, Chapman now sees about 20/30 in his right eye, describing the first clear view as the Vancouver skyline from his surgeon’s office.
- The operation was led by ophthalmologist Dr Greg Moloney in Vancouver, where the team used Chapman’s own tooth to anchor an optical cylinder that replaces the scarred cornea.
- The procedure has been carried out only a few hundred times globally, carries infection risk, and offers durable vision for many patients according to long-term studies using autologous tissue to reduce rejection.