Keratopigmentation: why is eyeball tattooing on the rise?

Name: Kerato pigmentation.

Age: First described in 150 ADbut not in a way that would tempt you.

Appearance: Your choice.

What are we talking about? here? Corneal tattoo.

Tattoo your cornea, like in your eye? That’s it.

How do you tattoo an eyeball? In the second century, the physician Galen of Pergamum developed a method of cauterizing the cornea with a heated probe and then applying a dye from pomegranate bark, but that’s not how they do it now.

How are they doing now? The procedures vary, but usually involve making a donut-shaped incision in the cornea – with a laser or a needle – before injecting the dye.

Who on earth would want that done to them? Keratopigmentation is often performed to correct cosmetic deformities, such as clouding of the cornea, caused for example by disease or injury. It is occasionally used to improve the view of a damaged iris.

Sounds reasonable. However, more and more people are resorting to keratopigmentation just to change the color of their eyes.

For fun? To improve their appearance and increase their self-confidence, for example.

Can they make them in any color you want? That’s fair, but gamblers usually change their eyes from brown to something else: blue, green, gray, taupe, honey, sand.

How much does it cost? It depends, but don’t expect much change for either eye from £10,000.

Every possible side-effects? A few, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmologyincluding infection, inflammation, photosensitivity, leakage of the dye into the eye and vision loss.

Let me consider that for a moment … The actual risk is unknown as there have been no long-term studies of keratopigmentation surgery performed on previously healthy eyeballs.

I see. And for that reason, the procedure is not available for cosmetic purposes in the UK.

Any other negatives worth mentioning? It is irreversible, but can also fade over time. And if you believe the testimonial photos on some surgeons’ websites, you look like a replicant.

How come? The procedure does not change the color of the iris; it only colors the clear cornea it covers, so the effect is eerily unnatural.

Why would anyone think this is a good idea? Because a lot TikTok influencers are getting it done and recommend it.

People are having unnecessary eye surgeries because people on social media did this? Naturally. People ate laundry detergent because people on social media did it.

That was years ago. I thought we had gotten smarter since then. I’ve seen nothing but evidence to the contrary.

Say: “Doesn’t it make my brown eyes blue?”

Don’t say: “It’s for pre-painting.”