Tooth Implant in Woman's Eye Helps Her See Again
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A 60-year-old Mississippi woman can finally see again after nine years of blindness.
Earlier this month, surgeons implanted Sharron “Kay” Thornton’s tooth inside her eye, which holds a prosthetic lens in place, according to a news release.
The procedure, known as modified osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis, or MOOKP, took place at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
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Although the procedure has been available at some eye clinics in Europe and Asia, this is the first time a patient has had the procedure done in the U.S., said Dr. Eduardo C. Alfonso.
Thornton lost her eyesight in 2000, the result of a skin condition known as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which destroys the cells on the eye’s surface and leads to scarring of the cornea.
“This is truly a miracle,” said Thornton, who is also looking forward to seeing her grandchildren.
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Doctors implanted Thronton’s canine tooth, ironically known as her “eyetooth.”
Just a few hours after the surgery, Thornton recognized faces. Within two weeks, she was reading newsprint with a visual acuity of 20/70. As the scars heal, her sight will continue to improve.
"Without sight, life is really hard. I'm hoping this surgery will help countless people," Thornton said.
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