How a blind Canadian woman can now see through her tooth

A tooth in your eye to help you see again? It sounds bizarre, almost unbelievable, but to your surprise, it’s very real.

Gail Lane, a 75-year-old woman from Canada, lost her vision ten years ago due to an autoimmune disorder that left her corneas badly scarred. Today, she can once again see light and shapes, thanks to a first-of-its-kind procedure.

The surgery, called osteo-odonto keratoprosthesis, or more simply, “tooth-in-eye surgery,” involves using a patient’s own tooth to help restore their sight.

Here’s how the procedure works, and why it’s bringing hope to people who thought they’d never see again

‘I can see lots of colours’

According to the New York Post, Gail Lane underwent the unusual procedure in February at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital in Vancouver. After ten years in darkness, she could finally see her partner’s face and the wagging tail of her beloved dog for the very first time.

“I can see lots of colour, and I can see outside now,” the 75-year-old told CBC News. “The trees and the grass and flowers, it’s a wonderful feeling to be able to see some of those things again,” she added.

In the weeks after the surgery, Lane’s vision returned slowly. At first, she could only sense light. Then came the ability to detect movement, including the familiar swish of her dog Piper’s tail. Six months later, she was able to see the face of her husband, Phil, whom she had met after losing her sight.

“I’m starting to see facial features on other people as well, which is also pretty exciting,” she said. Lane hasn’t yet been able to see her own face clearly, but she’s optimistic that the new pair of glasses she’s expecting soon will help.

How the procedure works

While this surgery has been performed elsewhere in the world, ophthalmologist Dr. Greg Moloney at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital was the first to bring it to Canada.

“It’s a complex and strange operation, but it basically involves replacing the cornea,” Moloney told CBC News.

The process begins with removing one of the patient’s teeth. That tooth is then implanted into their cheek for several months so it can be surrounded by strong connective tissue.

Once ready, both the tooth and the tissue are removed, and a small plastic focusing lens is inserted into the tooth. The entire unit is then stitched into the patient’s eye socket, using the connective tissue as a natural anchor.

For the first time in Canada, surgeons put teeth in patients’ eyes to restore sightpic.twitter.com/sxyymxGVzT

— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) March 23, 2025

“We need a structure that is strong enough to hold onto the plastic focusing telescope, but is not going to be rejected by the body,” Moloney explained.

Lane described the surgeries and recovery as uncomfortable but not painful.

“It’s been a long, it’s been a long wait, but well, well worth it,” she said.

A new life

Lane told Global News that losing her vision had been devastating.

“It was sad. I thought about all the things I couldn’t suddenly see, and would I ever be able to see them again?” she said.

Now, she’s looking forward to enjoying more independence.

“I’m hoping to have more mobility and independence in terms of short trips and walks here and there where I don’t always have to have someone’s arm for me to grab onto,” Lane said.

“I’m just looking forward, really, to seeing what I can do or do again, and trying to just be patient and let my brain adjust a bit because that’s another big part of this.”

With input from agencies