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Docs Use Tooth to Help Return Woman's Sight

By Will McCahill,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 16, 2009 8:14 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Doctors in Miami have used a woman’s tooth to help restore her vision, the Los Angeles Times reports. A disease that destroyed tissue in her left eye left Sharon Thornton unable to undergo a cornea transplant, so surgeons cut a canine tooth and bone out of her upper jaw and used them as an anchor for an artificial cornea. Thornton, 60, now has sight in both eyes for the first time since 2000.

The artificial cornea was lined up with the center of her retina, and doctors made a hole in the membrane, taken from her cheek, which covered the affected eye; the lens protrudes through. Thornton was able to recognize faces within hours of the procedure earlier this month; her vision is now 20/70 and is expected to keep improving.

A tooth and bone were taken from Sharon Thornton's mouth and used to anchor an artificial cornea in her left eye, which had been blind.
A tooth and bone were taken from Sharon Thornton's mouth and used to anchor an artificial cornea in her left eye, which had been blind.   (Getty Images)
Doctors in Miami have used a woman's tooth to restore vision in a damaged eye.
Doctors in Miami have used a woman's tooth to restore vision in a damaged eye.   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 15 comments
Guest
Sep 18, 2009 7:01 AM CDT
Is she going to look like a cybro forever. this is a great break thru, or is this is healing process.
riffran
Sep 18, 2009 3:22 AM CDT
lost me on that one weld...AP 1, 2 and advanced practice never covered THAT kind of work...great question
riffran
Sep 18, 2009 3:20 AM CDT
that would never work jag..it would give them a shitty outlook on life..lmao

See an animation of the procedure here
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

 
surgery • tooth • University of Miami • eyes • cornea • retina • Sharon Thornton • Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

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