After nine years without sight, a grandmother is finally able to see again thanks to a revolutionary procedure she underwent in South Florida, WPLG-TV reported.

Sharron Thorton, 60, of Smithdale, Miss., lost her sight in both eyes in 2000 as the result of a skin condition that destroyed her cornea. In March, she flew from Mississippi to South Florida for a procedure called osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis at Miami's Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. The bandages were removed on Labor Day.

"I knew then I could see," Thorton said.

Doctors at the institute explained the procedure to an audience Wednesday. Thorton watched attentively as complicated optical diagrams flashed on a screen overhead.

"I can see people in the audience. I can see your figures," said Thorton, whose vision is 20/70 now.

Doctors explained that the key to restoring Thorton's vision was in her mouth.

"This procedure is for patients that the front part of the eye is completely scarred down," said Dr. Victor Perez.

During the procedure, doctors implanted a prosthetic lens into a section of a pulled tooth, which can then act as a type of tripod. The tooth and lens are then bonded together naturally by being temporarily implanted under the patient's cheek.

"We then take that and put it in the cornea. It's kind of like bringing the mouth to the eye," said Perez, who performed the operation.

Perez said doctors use the tooth as a base for the lens because the body would reject an artificial base.

While the procedure has been done before in Europe, Thorton is the first patient in the U.S. to have it.

A lot has changed in Thorton's life since she lost her eyesight.

"Nine years is a long time, and I've had seven grandchildren," she said.

Thorton said she has a new view on life, one she won't take for granted.

"I can't wait to get back and see what all has happened in the nine years since I've been blind," Thorton said.

Thorton will return to Mississippi in a few days. She will undergo an operation on her right eye once her left eye heals.