Keratopigmentation: Trading Vision for Vanity

By: Angelina Triscari | Lehigh Valley Center For Sight, Marketing & Media

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A new trend is sweeping TikTok and Instagram, videos of people with stunning, unnaturally bright eye colors. But look closer, and you’ll find a more dangerous reality behind those views: a procedure called keratopigmentation.

Keratopigmentation, also called corneal tattooing, is gaining attention on social media as a permanent way to change your eye color. But what sounds like a trendy beauty statement can carry serious medical risks. Continue reading to find out what this surgery entails and why trusted medical experts like the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) advise against it.

What is Keratopigmentation?

Keratopigmentation is a procedure that involves creating tunnels in the cornea via lasers that are filled with pigmentation to alter the eye's color and appearance. While originally intended to mask scars and correct diseases, it has been increasingly used for aesthetics.

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The Rise of the Trend

The popularity of cosmetic eye procedures has exploded, mirroring the growth of social media. Between beauty filters and the influencer obsession with “unique features,” brightly colored eyes have become a coveted status symbol.

Advertised as a permanent way to change your eye color without contacts, keratopigmentation has been quietly gaining attention among influencers and beauty bloggers. It’s often marketed as safe, painless, and even FDA-cleared, although that last part is misleading. What’s being left out? The risk of serious complications, including vision loss and blindness.

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Risks and Complications

Even in the healthiest eyes, cosmetic Keratopigmentation can have serious risks. Multiple clinics and experts list the many dangers:

• Corneal Damage: Pigments used can cause cloudiness and fluid leakage that can lead to permanent blindness (The Guardian).

• Inflammation and Sensitivity: Over 30% of patients experience light sensitivity or inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, called the Uvea (NLM).

• Infection: Pigmentations in the eye can cause bacterial or fungal infections that can lead to scarring and vision loss (Clinica Sancho)

• Pigment Leakage: Dyes can migrate in the eye, leading to uneven distribution, leakage, and further damage (AAO).

• Other risks: Increased pressure (glaucoma), cataract formation, disarranged eye anatomy, leading to extensive issues (AAO).

Medical Recommendations

Although this procedure seems to keep building popularity, many experts urge the public to take a more analytical approach to this fad. The risks seem to far outweigh the benefits. Since this is just a temporary trend in beauty, short-term changes are more appropriate, such as colored contacts.

Eyesight is priceless. While the appeal of beauty may be tempting, the potential costs, like irritation and vision loss, are high. Experts and ophthalmology platforms emphasize: never risk healthy vision for aesthetics, especially when other options are available.

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The Lehigh Valley Center for Sight Can Help You Maintain Your Sight

If you would like to schedule an eye exam or have questions/concerns about your visual acuity, call us at 610-437-4988 or use the contact form on our website. We can answer your questions and schedule an eye exam so you can take steps to maintain your sight.