Tooth eye surgery is a procedure used to fix vision of eyes through part of his/her own teeth. We also called it osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP) technique (also known as “tooth in eye” surgery) is a medical operation that restores eyesight in people with severe corneal and ocular surface conditions.
It entails the extraction of a tooth from either the patient or a donor.
How tooth eye surgery Works?
When a tooth is implanted into a blinded eye, it can restore the patient’s ability to see. This technique is called osteo-odonto-keratoprothesis (OOKP). This operation may sound like something out of a cheesy B-grade sci-fi flick, but it has been around for quite some time.
Researchers have refined the technique in recent years, but the basic idea of using a patient’s oral tissue to help repair a damaged cornea remains the same.
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The eye’s cornea is the outermost layer of defense against foreign objects entering the eye. The tears that maintain it moist and clear make it malleable and durable, supplying around three-quarters of your eye’s focusing capability.
Your vision depends on the health of your cornea. In the event that it becomes clouded or scarred, your eyesight may decrease or you may go entirely blind. To avoid this, your doctor should undergo a corneal transplant operation, replacing your non-functioning cornea with organ donors who are more functional than your own.
In the United States, around 40,000 of these procedures are performed annually. Unfortunately, a transplant is not an option for everyone.
A chemical or thermal burn can cause irreversible damage to the eye. Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a condition that can be caused by an infection or a pharmaceutical reaction, can create a terrible rash. An eye’s ability to heal itself or produce tears necessary for a corneal transplant may be permanently damaged by these kinds of occurrences.
Both the patient and the doctor may grow frantic for a solution in these situations. After cutting a tooth out of your mouth, a surgeon may stitch it into the inside of your cheek so that she can eventually zip it into your eyeball months or years later.
What to expect during tooth eye surgery
Tooth eye surgery is a medical procedure to restore vision in the most severe cases of corneal and ocular surface patients. The surgery begins by removing the damaged or diseased tissue and then replacing it with new, healthy tissue.
After the surgery is complete, patients may need to wear a patch or prosthetic device to keep the new tissue in place.
After tooth eye surgery: Recovery tips
Some people who have undergone tooth eye surgery recover their vision within a few weeks. For others, the process may take much longer.
Recovery tips for this medical procedure vary depending on the severity of the damage, but typically involve a combination of rest, medication, and vision therapy.
- Make sure to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully and take all of the prescribed medications as directed
- Rest as much as possible and avoid strenuous activity that could aggravate your injuries
