# A Tooth for an eye: Can dentistry cure blindness? **URL:** \ **Category:** Dental\ **Tags:** dentistry, dental, eye-health, medicalinnovation, medical\ **Created:** [April 23, 2026, 3:39pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632 "2026-04-23T15:39:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PriyaRavichandran18](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/priyaravichandran18/32/4292_2.png) [@PriyaRavichandran18](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/PriyaRavichandran18)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2026, 3:39pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632/1 "2026-04-23T15:39:22Z")
**Introduction** Imagine a tooth 🦷being used as an implant to restore vision 👁 . Sounds like a plot of a sci-fi movie, doesn’t it? However, this procedure dates back to the 1960s. In Italy, Benedetto Strampelli, a surgeon developed a unique approach to treat end stage corneal blindness using patient’s own tooth. Strampelli observed how dental restorative materials are accepted by the body when placed inside a tooth. However, if the same materials are placed directly into soft tissue, the body often rejects them as invaders. He proposed an idea of using a tooth and the surrounding bone as a vehicle to carry plastic lens. By using the tooth as a framework, he created a “biological disguise” for the artificial plastic lens, preventing the eye from rejecting it. This “autograft” technique was referred to as **“Tooth in eye surgery” or the “Osseo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP)”.** **Who needs this surgery?** OOKP is not a first-line treatment; it is a “last resort” for patients with bilateral corneal blindness due to: - · Severe end‑stage Stevens–Johnson syndrome · Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid · Chemical or thermal burns, physical injury limited only to cornea · Multiple failed corneal transplants · Lyell Syndrome · Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita · Erythema multiforme **Note: - For the surgery to be successful, the patient must still have a healthy, functioning retina and optic nerve.** **The Surgical Procedure** Tooth in eye surgery is a complex multidisciplinary journey involving an ophthalmologist, dentist and a radiologist. **Stage 1:** The journey begins with a collaboration between an ophthalmologist and a maxillofacial surgeon. - **Extraction** : A patient’s canine tooth—chosen for its large root and sturdy bone—is extracted along with a surrounding block of alveolar bone. - **Lamina** : This tooth is shaped into a thin, rectangular plate called a lamina. A central hole is drilled, and a high-grade plastic optical cylinder is cemented inside. - **Vascularization** : This prepared unit is then surgically tucked under the skin of the patient’s cheek. Over the next 3 to 4 months, the tooth grows a new blood supply and remains viable. - **Eye preparation** : Simultaneously, a flap of mucosal tissue is harvested from inside the patient’s mouth and grafted onto the surface of the eye to create a new surface to receive the OOKP. **Stage 2:** Once the tooth-implant is “vascularized” and the eye graft has healed, the second stage operation begins. - The living tooth-lens unit is removed from the cheek pocket. - The surgeon reflects the mucosal graft on the eye and removes the iris, the natural lens, and some of the vitreous jelly to create a clear path for light. - The tooth-lens unit is stitched directly to the front of the eye. The plastic cylinder sits in the center, protruding through a small opening made in the mucosal flap. This serves as the new, permanent window through which the patient can finally see. ![Illustration showing the surgical procedure for Tooth in eye surgery](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/uploads/medbound/original/2X/1/1b51f529af81440121d56a96c48407a8bf9cce0f.jpeg) **Discussion** OOKP offers a medical miracle for those in total darkness. Because the implant uses the patient’s own tissue, it has excellent biocompatibility and high long-term retention rates. However, the procedure has its drawbacks: · Surgical complexity and duration · Loss of healthy tooth · Intra Oral complications like infection, scarring, difficulty in chewing · Unesthetic appearance of the new eye: It looks like a fleshy pink mound (the mucosal graft) with a small, clear plastic “bolt” (the cylinder) protruding from the center. · Long-term Maintenance and Complications like glaucoma, limited visual field, tooth/bone resorption **Conclusion:** OOKP, despite being the last resort, it is also a medical miracle. By bridging the gap between dentistry and eye surgery, it proves that the key to seeing the world again might actually be hidden in our oral cavity. While the journey is long and intensive, the result is life-changing. For those who have spent years in total darkness, losing a tooth is a small price to pay. **What are your views on OOKP?** **Can you think of a less complex alternative to OOKP? Would you trade your tooth for your eyesight?** MBH/AB ---
**Author:** ![Dr.AmulyaThota\_16](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/dr.amulyathota_16/32/4652_2.png) [@Dr.AmulyaThota\_16](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Dr.AmulyaThota_16)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2026, 5:27pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632/2 "2026-05-11T17:27:27Z")
I find this niche extremely fascinating . Though I agree it has a long way to go for people to accept this mode of treatment , because like you have mentioned , aesthetics are a primary concern. But , what I feel is, the field of prosthetics is advancing at a rapid pace , so including maxillofacial prosthodontists( especially those specialised in ocular prosthesis) to the team can contribute to making this amazing technique better. ---
**Author:** ![PriyaRavichandran18](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/priyaravichandran18/32/4292_2.png) [@PriyaRavichandran18](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/PriyaRavichandran18)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 2:36am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632/3 "2026-05-12T02:36:00Z")
I was equally stunned when I read about it. Moreover, the positive results reinforce that this may be a cure for patients who have lost all hope of seeing the world again. Maxillofacial prosthodontics is fascinating indeed. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![nainasharda5](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/nainasharda5/32/4668_2.png) [@nainasharda5](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/nainasharda5)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 4:16am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632/4 "2026-05-12T04:16:31Z")
Indeed it is a medical miracle !! How dentistry and 32 teeth are connected with each other and with the entire body is truly fascinating ---
**Author:** ![AmiyaSrivastava](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/amiyasrivastava/32/4656_2.png) [@AmiyaSrivastava](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/AmiyaSrivastava)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 4:59am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632/5 "2026-05-12T04:59:47Z")
Really fascinating read! The concept of tooth-in-eye surgery (OOKP) sounds unbelievable, yet it’s amazing how science has made it possible. The explanation of the procedure was very clear and engaging. Great work! ---
**Author:** ![PriyaRavichandran18](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/priyaravichandran18/32/4292_2.png) [@PriyaRavichandran18](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/PriyaRavichandran18)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 5:28am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632/6 "2026-05-12T05:28:47Z")
It is amazing. What was more astonishing were the positive patient outcomes! ---
**Author:** ![PriyaRavichandran18](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/priyaravichandran18/32/4292_2.png) [@PriyaRavichandran18](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/PriyaRavichandran18)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 5:30am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632/7 "2026-05-12T05:30:13Z")
Thank you!! Glad you found it informative. Welcome to the MedBound Hub community!! ---
**Author:** ![Neethu](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/neethu/32/4669_2.png) [@Neethu](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Neethu)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 5:32am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632/8 "2026-05-13T05:32:12Z")
Indeed this fascinating. As mentioned in the concluding statement for those who have lived in darkness for years or for their entire life it really sounds like a ray of hope. But the complexity and technical sensitivity of the procedure is has to be considered. This article pour light to the fact that our oral cavity is an integral part of human body as any other organ and how each system in the body are interconnected. ---
**Author:** ![PriyaRavichandran18](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/priyaravichandran18/32/4292_2.png) [@PriyaRavichandran18](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/PriyaRavichandran18)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 5:49am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632/9 "2026-05-13T05:49:17Z")
Glad you liked it @Neethu. ---
**Author:** ![GRL](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/grl/32/4296_2.png) [@GRL](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/GRL)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 6:27am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632/10 "2026-05-13T06:27:44Z")
I had never heard of this before. Thanks for sharing 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hemalatha07](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/hemalatha07/32/4906_2.png) [@Hemalatha07](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Hemalatha07)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 6:43am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632/11 "2026-05-13T06:43:44Z")
Though OOKP procedure has 90% success rate due to its complexity & long recovery time that include life long follow up with doctors makes it very tideous and very handful of specialised centres available to perform this procedure so nowadays doctors are preferring other procedures like 1)Boston keratoprosthesis 2)corneal transplant 3)Artificial cornea implant 4)stem cell therapy ---
**Author:** ![nainasharda5](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/nainasharda5/32/4668_2.png) [@nainasharda5](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/nainasharda5)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 6:50am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632/12 "2026-05-13T06:50:49Z")
Indeed a miracle for someone ---
**Author:** ![PriyaRavichandran18](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/priyaravichandran18/32/4292_2.png) [@PriyaRavichandran18](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/PriyaRavichandran18)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 7:28am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632/13 "2026-05-13T07:28:32Z")
Thank you for sharing this @Hemalatha07 🙂 👍 !! ---
**Author:** ![Sindhushareddy](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/sindhushareddy/32/5078_2.png) [@Sindhushareddy](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Sindhushareddy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 6:09am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632/14 "2026-06-28T06:09:33Z")
Yes. I came across this case before and felt fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![T\_Sowmiya](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/t_sowmiya/32/5061_2.png) [@T\_Sowmiya](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/T_Sowmiya)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 6:38am UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632/15 "2026-06-28T06:38:01Z")
I have seen a patient with OOKP implantation. It is used in cases of chemical burns, SJS syndrome and failed corneal graft ---
**Author:** ![PriyaRavichandran18](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/priyaravichandran18/32/4292_2.png) [@PriyaRavichandran18](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/PriyaRavichandran18)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 4:08pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632/16 "2026-06-28T16:08:00Z")
Glad you liked it @Sindhushareddy ☺ ---
**Author:** ![PriyaRavichandran18](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/priyaravichandran18/32/4292_2.png) [@PriyaRavichandran18](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/PriyaRavichandran18)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 4:08pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632/17 "2026-06-28T16:08:51Z")
Wonderful !! Seeing a case up front definitely ensures greater learning experience @T_Sowmiya ---
**Author:** ![Shija\_raj](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/shija_raj/32/5058_2.png) [@Shija\_raj](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Shija_raj)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 7:43pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632/18 "2026-06-28T19:43:59Z")
This is actually a very interesting topic. People always think dentist have job for only teeth but it still fascinates to know that teeth can do wonders. ---
**Author:** ![PriyaRavichandran18](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/priyaravichandran18/32/4292_2.png) [@PriyaRavichandran18](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/PriyaRavichandran18)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2026, 12:02pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632/19 "2026-07-04T12:02:13Z")
Absolutely 💯 @Shija_raj. It is indeed fascinating that how our tooth could act as a tool to help restore vision. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.yashijindal22](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex033/user_avatar/www.medboundhub.com/dr.yashijindal22/32/5074_2.png) [@Dr.yashijindal22](https://www.medboundhub.com/u/Dr.yashijindal22)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2026, 5:44pm UTC](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632/20 "2026-07-07T17:44:48Z")
Interesting! New topic for me as their could be a connection between these two. [Next page](https://www.medboundhub.com/t/a-tooth-for-an-eye-can-dentistry-cure-blindness/17632.md?page=2)