New Delhi, March 5 -- Brent Chapman, a 33-year-old from North Vancouver in Canada, is one of the first Canadians to undergo osteoodonto keratoprosthesis (OOKP), commonly known as tooth-in-eye surgery. Initially sceptical, he was encouraged by a woman in Australia who regained sight after the procedure.

OOKP involves removing a patient's tooth, embedding a plastic optical lens inside it and implanting it into the eye. Teeth are used because their dentine is strong and resistant to rejection.

The surgery, led by Dr. Greg Moloney at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital in Vancouver, has never been performed in Canada before. However, OOKP has been successful in other countries.

This procedure is meant for patients with severe corneal blindness but...