London (PTI): In a rare surgical feat, doctors in Britain have successfully restored the sight of a blind man by transplanting his tooth into his eye.

A team, led by Christopher Lui of Sussex Eye Hospital, carried out the rare procedure on 42-year-old Martin Jones who was blinded for 12 years after a tub of hot aluminium exploded in his face as he worked at a scrapyard.

In fact, the procedure began when one of Jones' canine teeth was removed and converted into a holder for a special optical lens by drilling a hole in it. The tooth was inserted into his cheek for three months to enable it to grow absolute new tissue and blood vessels.

Then finally came the delicate operation to insert the tooth, complete with the fitted lens into Jones right eyeball.

And, within two weeks of the final operation to implant the tooth in his eyeball his sight returned, 'The Daily Telegraph' reported.

"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.

"When I first heard about the technique I couldn't believe it. (Now) I feel fantastic getting my sight back. I can't really describe it -- it's beyond words. I was blind for 12 years and when my sight came back everything had changed," Jones was quoted as saying.