Doctors use tooth to restore blind woman's sight

Sharron Thornton got blind nine years ago due to an allergic reaction to a medication which damaged her cornea. She had tried many medical procedures, including gene therapy, to restore her vision but all attempts failed.

But with first-of-its-kind eye-tooth surgery performed on the Labor Day at the University of Miami, Thornton was able to regain her sight. Amazingly, the Miami surgeons used Thornton’s tooth to make it all happen.

They performed an unusual procedure suggested only in extreme cases called osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis which implants the patient’s tooth in the eye to carefully hold a prosthetic lens. Prosthesis is an artificial extension that replaces a missing body part.

The tooth keeps the lens stable so that it is bonded well with the other healthy parts of the eye. One cannot see the tooth in the eye because it is covered by different layers, explained the doctors.

Details of the procedure
To perform the radical surgery, the doctors removed Thornton’s eye tooth -- named eyetooth as it is located directly under the eye. After the tooth was sculpted, a hole was drilled through the tooth to insert a cylindrical optical lens. Thereafter, the combined tooth and lens were implanted in Thornton's shoulder so that they became fully integrated.

Two months later, the tooth was removed from her shoulder and carefully implanted in her eye by aligning it with the retina—the light sensitive tissue lining the inner surface of the eye.

Thornton’s eyesight back and improving
The doctors said that Thorton has a vision of 20/70 and it is expected that her vision will continue to improve with the healing of the surgical scars.

She can now recognize people and also read newspaper and magazine print with a magnifying glass, which she will have to wear for the rest of her life.

"Sharron was able to see 20/60 this morning. She was seeing only shadows a couple of weeks ago," said ophthalmologist and surgeon Victor Perez.

The procedure was originally developed in 1963 by Italian ophthalmologist Dr. Benedetto Strampelli. Perez, Thornton's doctor, learned this technique from Dr. Giancarlo Falcinelli of Italy.

Thornton’s comments on her eye-sight
"We take sight for granted, not realizing that it can be lost at any moment," Thornton said. "This truly is a miracle."

"Being blind was horrible after seeing for 51 years," Thornton said.

Thorton is particularly excited to see her seven grandchildren and says that being able to see again is "like Christmas”.