Ophthalmologists Warn Against Eye Color Changing Surgery

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While some consumers turn to products marketed as eye color changing drops While they search for their preferred hue, others are reportedly pursuing an even more invasive option We pay thousands of dollars for surgery to change eye color.

Amid ophthalmologists’ concerns, patients have said the procedure, known as keratopigmentation or eye tattooing, is worth the potential risks.

The process involves “tattooing the cornea, the windshield of the eye,” said Allison Coombs, DO, MS, director of oculofacial plastic surgery at Northwell Health’s Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital and Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. MedPage Today.

Although such procedures have been used for many years for patients with certain conditions, such as being born without the colored part of their eyes and having sensitivity to light as a result, in the past few years patients have been “more into ‘aesthetics,'” Coombs said.

He noted that ophthalmologists are more comfortable accepting risks for patients with medical indications, but that is not the case for those who want the procedure for aesthetic reasons.

One thing to consider is that, rather than just a portion of the eye being targeted in a procedure for medical reasons, most of the cornea may be covered in a procedure for aesthetic reasons, Coombs explained.

Risks associated with the procedure include sight-threatening infections and inflammatory problems, as well as quality issues such as pigment migration and discoloration, fading, or changing color over time.

Coombs said ultimately “there just isn’t enough data for us as an ophthalmic community to say whether this is safe or not.”

Indeed, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) issued a statement earlier this year: warned of dangers has been linked to eye color changing procedures trending on social media.

“The natural cornea is crystal clear and shows the color of the iris underneath within the eye,” the AAO explained. In keratopigmentation, the process “involves using a needle or laser to create an area in the cornea itself where a color pigment is injected, permanently changing the cornea from clear to opaque, covering the natural iris color inside.”

The organization also highlighted several risks associated with the procedure, including:

• Corneal damage that can lead to clouding, distortion, fluid leakage, and vision loss
• light sensitivity
• Dye reaction in the cornea that can cause inflammation, uveitis, or blood vessel enlargement
• Bacterial or fungal infection of the cornea, which can lead to scarring and vision loss
• Uneven distribution of paint
• Paint leaking into the eye
• Discoloration due to paint moving or leaking into the eye

“Don’t assume these surgeries carry no risks,” JoAnn Giaconi, MD, AAO’s clinical spokeswoman, said at the time. “No surgery is risk-free. When it comes to cosmetic surgery only on the eye, it is not worth the risk when it comes to your good vision.”

The AAO also noted potential risks associated with FDA-approved iris implant surgery; However, this surgery was only available to people who were missing part or all of the colored part of their eye due to an injury or birth defect. “Patients who have this procedure for medical reasons also face the risk of complications from implant surgery, but the benefits of iris regrowth may outweigh the risks,” the organization said.

AAO, in addition to surgeries warned against products They are marketed as eye color-changing drops, and manufacturers claim that the eye drops contain an ingredient that adjusts natural melanin levels in the iris.

But Dr., an ophthalmologist at Northwell Health. “There’s nothing approved by the FDA that can actually do this,” says Alina Djougarian. it has been said before MedPage Today. Phrases such as “brown eyes turning blue” are “false advertising,” he said.

He explained that the pigment in the eye is genetically determined and that depigmentation can lead to severe inflammation or high pressure in the eye, which can lead to glaucoma or other serious conditions that can cause blindness.

Coombs said information about eye color change procedures circulating online and on social media was “extremely concerning”.

“For people looking for cosmetic gains, we only hear about them having a positive experience, but we don’t have enough data to say ‘take your healthy eyes and go change the color.'” he added.

The AAO states that the safest way to change eye color is through the use of colored contact lenses, and they should only be used as prescribed, dispensed, and worn by a qualified eye care professional.

Coombs agrees. Keratopigmentation for aesthetic purposes is both “risky and permanent,” he said. “It’s impossible to get your corneas tattooed.”