After living in darkness for nearly 20 years, Brent Chapman can finally see again — thanks to a remarkable operation involving one of his own teeth.

Earlier this year in Canada, Chapman underwent a rare procedure called osteo-odonto keratoprosthesis — more commonly known as “tooth-in-eye” surgery. He is now one of only a handful of people in the country to have received the treatment.

The surgery, first developed in the 1960s, begins with removing one of the patient’s teeth and implanting it into their cheek. Over the course of several months, the tooth becomes reinforced by connective tissue. Later, doctors insert a tiny lens into the tooth, and finally, both the tooth and lens are carefully stitched into the patient’s eye socket, creating a stable structure for vision.

“We need something strong enough to hold the focusing lens, but also something the body won’t reject,” explained Dr. Greg Moloney of Mount Saint Joseph Hospital in Vancouver.

Chapman had normal vision until the age of 13, when a reaction to ibuprofen triggered a rare autoimmune condition called Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS). The disorder caused severe burns across his body, including his eyes — leaving him permanently blind. Despite undergoing more than 50 procedures over the years, nothing worked until the tooth-in-eye surgery.

The moment his sight returned, Chapman described it as life-changing:

“I feel fantastic. Vision comes back and … it’s a whole new world,” he told ABC 7.

In an emotional moment, Chapman said he broke down in tears after making eye contact with Dr. Moloney, the surgeon who restored his vision:

“I hadn’t really made eye contact in 20 years.”

His father, Phil Chapman, also reflected on the journey:

“We always said we would go anywhere, do anything to keep his vision — and here we are.”

Now, with his sight restored, Brent Chapman is looking forward to a future filled with family, experiences, and the simple joy of seeing the world again.