Osteo‑odonto‑keratoprosthesis (OOKP) is a highly specialised procedure that uses a patient’s own tooth and surrounding bone to support an artificial corneal optic. It is reserved for end‑stage ocular surface disease where no other corneal surgery is viable.
Procedure
A canine tooth block is harvested, sculpted, and combined with a PMMA optical cylinder, then implanted into the patient’s cheek to vascularise. In a second stage, it is transplanted into the eye after removing diseased cornea and covering the device with oral mucosa.
- Indicated in severe chemical burns, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and similar conditions
- Requires good oral health and sufficient tooth-bone structure
- Surgery is complex, lengthy, and performed in very few centres worldwide
- Long‑term follow‑up is intensive and lifelong
Results and Risks
OOKP can provide remarkable visual recovery, sometimes to reading vision, but carries substantial risks including glaucoma, retinal detachment, resorption of the tooth-bone lamina, and mucosal problems.
- Multiple revisions may be needed over the patient’s lifetime
- Dedicated multidisciplinary teams manage ocular, dental, and systemic aspects
- Patients must commit to strict follow‑up and protective measures
- Given its complexity, OOKP is considered only after exhaustive evaluation of alternatives
