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Tooth implant allows blind man to see
A MAN who was blind for 12 years has seen his wife for the first time after specialists implanted part of one of his teeth into his eye socket.
Martin Jones lost his sight when a tub of molten alumnium exploded in his face.
The 42-year-old, of Rotherham, had his left eye removed after the industrial accident, but doctors were able to save his right eye, although he couldn't see out of it.
But in a pioneering operation, carried out at Brighton's Sussex Eye Hospital, Mr Jones' sight was restored using one his canine teeth.
The tooth was removed and had a tiny hole drilled through it to allow a lens to be inserted.
It was then implanted in his cheek to allow for the growth of new tissue and blood vessels, and finally was fixed into his eye socket.
The lens allows light to be focussed onto Mr Jones' retina, and two weeks after the operation, he was told he had near-perfect sight.
He married his wife Gill, 50, four years ago and said seeing her was "wonderful".
"I met my wife when I was blind and when I found out there was a chance I would get my sight back the first person I wanted to see was her.
"The doctors took the bandages off and it was like looking through water and then I saw this figure and it was her.
"She's wonderful and lovely. It was unbelievable to see her for the first time."
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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