A BBC documentary titled “The Day I Got My Sight Back” follows the experiences of Ian Tibbets, a blind man who opts for an unusual medical procedure to restore his sight. This innovative surgery, pioneered by Italian surgeon Professor Benedetto Strampelli in the 1960s and known as osteo-odonto-keratoprothesis, involves the implantation of a patient’s tooth into their eyeball. A tiny lens is fitted into the tooth, which is then implanted into the eye and left for several months to allow the growth and development of blood vessels and soft tissue. Later, a second operation involves taking off the front of the eye, leaving the customised tooth as its replacement.

Here’s an animated demonstration:

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The results are not what you’d call aesthetically pleasing, with the operation leaving some recipients with a slightly demonic eye, but considering it can restore the sight of people who have been blind for decades, it’s a small price to pay.

Watch this promo for the show:

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