The reigning PDC World Champion looked set to cruise into the last eight when he took a 9-3 lead, only for the Canadian great to battle back with five successive legs in pulling back to within a leg.
Lewis will now take on former Lakeside Champion Mark Webster in the quarter-finals on Saturday evening, and admitted: "I took my foot off the gas when I got to 9-3 and I got away with it in the end.
"I'm still learning and to be honest at 9-3 I should have finished John off, but he showed why he is three-time World Champion. I knew I had one more good leg in me and fortunately it came out."
Lewis made a fine start with a 13-dart finish and also broke in the second leg before posting double five for a 3-0 lead.
Part took out 104 in the fourth to win his first leg, but paid for missed doubles in the next as Lewis hit back to finish double ten with his third dart for a 4-1 advantage at the first break.
Lewis then finished 109 and 72 to win the next two legs - with the latter coming despite Part hitting two 180s - before the Canadian took the eighth to pull back to 6-2.
Lewis edged towards victory by winning three of the next four legs courtesy of two 14-darters and a 13-dart finish, with Part hitting a 180 and a 96 checkout in reply.
Double ten from Part saw him begin his fightback in pulling back to 9-4, and when he landed double 16 and tops Lewis began to show his nerves.
Part took out double 17 to pull back to 9-7, and when Lewis was unable to convert a chance at tops the Canadian reduced the gap to one leg courtesy of double seven.
Lewis, though, hit four scores of 100 or more to edge away in the 18th leg, and finished double 12 with his third dart to end a dramatic contest.
"It's frustrating for me because I never got into my rhythm but I didn't give up," said Part. "I was determined to play like a World Champion and I fought all the way.
"It was almost a miracle story and I got close to Adrian - but not close enough."
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