Eyes as blue as sapphires or as green as emeralds, forever. The dream of many is becoming reality thanks to the eye tattoo, a cosmetic surgery procedure that promises to permanently change the color of your iris. But at what cost? Experts are sounding the alarm about the potential risks of this little-known practice.
As we had already mentioned a year ago, eyeball tattooing is a growing trend: from the USA, which decreed its birth, it is spreading like wildfire also in Europe. But what do we really know about this procedure and its consequences?
Keratopigmentation: the technique for dyeing the eyes
Eye tattoo, also known as keratopigmentation, involves cutting a donut-shaped tunnel into the cornea of the eye. The surgeon then enlarges this tunnel and fills it with a special dye that immediately and permanently changes the color of the eye. In the past, this technique was used to correct cosmetic defects caused by injury or disease. In some cases, it can also reduce glare due to corneal damage. But in recent years, especially in Europe, doctors have begun injecting dyes for purely cosmetic reasons.
In a certain vulgate, the operation is already considered a mere routine “cosmetic improvement,” like teeth whitening or Botox. “If it’s something that can make you happier, or make you look better, why not?” Yeah. Why not?
The risks of eye tattooing
Despite the enthusiasm of some patients, experts warn about the dangers of eye tattooing. TheAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) has recently posted a warning about the risks of eye color change operations. Possible complications include damage to the cornea which can lead to opacity, Dye leaks inside the eye and increased sensitivity to light. Other patients have reported increased sensitivity to light after surgery, according to the Wall Street Journal.
“No surgery is without risks,” he said. JoAnn Giaconi, AAO clinical spokesperson. “With purely cosmetic eye surgeries, the risk of losing your sight is not worth it.”
Eye Tattoo Regulation and Safety
In Europe, as in the United States, there is no specific law that regulates and disciplines the keratopigmentation as a procedure. However, this has not stopped some surgeons from finding workarounds: they use lasers designed for vision correction “off-label” and purchase dyes from foreign companies where they are certified. A lack of regulation that raises serious questions about the safety of eye tattooing. Without clear guidelines and rigorous controls, patients could be exposed to unnecessary and potentially irreversible risks.
Safer alternatives to change eye color
The AAO recommends opting for much less invasive alternatives, such as colored contact lenses, for those who want to change their eye color. While the effect is not permanent, this solution is much safer and reversible.
In short, eye tattooing seems to be the latest frontier of body modification, but the risks are not to be underestimated. Before undergoing this procedure that is still not very regulated, it is essential to be well informed and carefully weigh the pros and cons. The health of our eyes is too precious to put it at risk in the name of a fad that is perhaps temporary, and certainly immature for the type of technology used. It is important that patients are fully aware of the potential consequences and that they rely only on qualified professionals, if they really cannot give up this radical change.
In an age where physical appearance seems to matter more and more, eye tattoos represent the desire to stand out and personalize every detail of one's body. Only time will tell if this trend will truly challenge the limits of cosmetic surgery or if it will turn out to be a dangerous and blinding flash in the pan.
