In this episode I unpack the wildest eye surgery you’ve never heard of—a procedure that uses a patient’s tooth to hold an artificial cornea in place. This rare surgery restores vision in people with severe corneal damage. I also react to Goldie Hawn mentioning her cataracts at the Oscars, discussing why cataracts are a normal part of aging and why most people should have them removed by their 70s.
Takeaways:
Tooth-Based Eye Surgery Sounds Crazy, But It Works: The osteoodontokeratoprosthesis (OOKP) procedure involves implanting a patient’s tooth into their cheek, then using it as a corneal support. It’s used in extreme cases of corneal blindness when traditional transplants won’t work.
Goldie Hawn’s Cataract Revelation at the Oscars: A throwaway comment at the Oscars sent cataract searches skyrocketing, highlighting how common cataracts are after age 60—and why most people should consider surgery by their 70s.
Should Cataract Surgery Be Delayed? Dr. Flanary breaks down why waiting too long can make cataract surgery riskier, especially when glare, reading issues, or night driving problems start affecting daily life.
Australia Wants to Learn from America’s Healthcare Failures: Ahead of his keynote speech in Sydney, Dr. Flanary shares how Australia is facing growing privatization threats—and why they don’t want to end up with a U.S.-style system.
Healthcare Comedy as a Teaching Tool: Dr. Flanary floats the idea of a stand-up show explaining U.S. healthcare, mixing satire and real policy breakdowns to educate audiences worldwide on how we got here.
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A friendly reminder from the G’s and Tarsus: If you want to learn more about Demodex Blepharitis, making an appointment with your eye doctor for an eyelid exam can help you know for sure. Visit http://www.EyelidCheck.com for more information.
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