Osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP), also known as “tooth in eye” surgery, is a medical procedure to restore vision in the most severe cases of corneal and ocular surface patients. It includes removal of a tooth from the patient or a donor.

After removal, a longitudinal lamina is cut from the tooth and a hole is drilled perpendicular to the lamina. The hole is then fitted with a cylindrical lens. The lamina is grown in the patients’ cheek for a period of months and then is implanted upon the eye.

The procedure was pioneered by the Italian ophthalmic surgeon, professor Benedetto Strampelli in the early 1960s. Strampelli was a founder-member of the International Intra-Ocular Implant Club (IIIC) in 1966.

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we swear someone posted about that here like 4 months ago but yeah weird procedure

But does it work? AI Overview (quoting Wiki) claims:

Yes, tooth-in-eye surgery—properly known as Osteo-Odonto-Keratoprosthesis (OOKP)—is a highly effective, specialized procedure that restores vision in patients with severe, end-stage corneal blindness. It has a high success rate, often cited between 88% and 94%, and can last for decades.

Key Details About OOKP:

The Procedure: It involves taking a patient’s tooth and surrounding bone, shaping them into a lens support, and planting an artificial lens within it before placing it in the eye.

Why a Tooth? Because the material is from the patient’s own body, the risk of rejection is significantly lower than traditional corneal transplants.

Ideal Candidates: It is a last-resort surgery for individuals whose eyes are too damaged for standard corneal transplants, but who still have a functional retina and optic nerve.

Outcome: Patients can experience significant, life-changing improvements in vision, sometimes going from blindness to 20/40 or 20/30 vision, which can last up to 30 years.

Risks: While effective, it is a complex, multi-stage, 12+ hour procedure with potential risks like infection, scarring, or complications with the tooth/gum tissue.

The surgery is rare, typically performed by a limited number of specialists worldwide.

SCIENCE said:

we swear someone posted about that here like 4 months ago but yeah weird procedure

Me.

SCIENCE said:

we swear someone posted about that here like 4 months ago but yeah weird procedure

I’m pretty sure I posted about this before I retired, and that was now almost 7 years ago. It’s pretty rare. I’ve not heard anything about it for ages.

SCIENCE said:

we swear someone posted about that here like 4 months ago but yeah weird procedure

Hey, if it works…

buffy said:

SCIENCE said:

we swear someone posted about that here like 4 months ago but yeah weird procedure

I’m pretty sure I posted about this before I retired, and that was now almost 7 years ago. It’s pretty rare. I’ve not heard anything about it for ages.

I walked down to where the TV is going and on QI they were talking about intraocular implants.

roughbarked said:

buffy said:

SCIENCE said:

we swear someone posted about that here like 4 months ago but yeah weird procedure

I’m pretty sure I posted about this before I retired, and that was now almost 7 years ago. It’s pretty rare. I’ve not heard anything about it for ages.

I walked down to where the TV is going and on QI they were talking about intraocular implants.

They were indeed. But actually, the perspex from the plane windshield led to PMMA contact lenses. It was quite a long time before they moved on to intra-ocular lenses. I guess it was just so they could segue into Sandy’s surgery. But they should get the history right.

buffy said:

kii said:

SCIENCE said:

we swear someone posted about that here like 4 months ago but yeah weird procedure

Me.

I’m pretty sure I posted about this before I retired, and that was now almost 7 years ago. It’s pretty rare. I’ve not heard anything about it for ages.

ah, then we thank all 3 of yous because it’s certainly a curious fact and we do appreciate visiting places like this and the ancestor Forums and learning new things many if not most if not all days