We have been so busy with the office move and several Bright Eyes events, that I haven't written about clinical eye care recently. It is a shame because I have so many things I want to post: new products that are out, educational posts that feature images from my new anterior segment camera, and more. But this is one topic that I found fascinating and have wanted to share for a while now.
For many people, the grass is always greener in other people's eyes. Well, that's not exactly right, but there are a lot of people who think they'd like to have a different eye color - be it blue, green, brown, or even purple. For years, the only way to do this was with cosmetic contact lenses. These are like regular contact lenses with paint or dye on them. We fit these on occasion but, but they haven't improved in technology recently.
Image from the BBC
Well, now there may be a procedure to permanently change your eye color. A doctor is experimenting with using a laser to remove the brown color from the outside of the iris, the colored part of your eye. This leaves the person with blue eye. I originally read this from the BBC News:
The process involves a computerised scanning system that takes a picture of the iris and works out which areas to treat. The laser is then fired, using a proprietary pattern, hitting one spot of the iris at a time.
So now you are thinking, "I want blue eyes from lasers!" But is this a good idea? I doubt it. Not only are their potential side effects with lasers in the eyes in general in not handle correctly, but also having lots of loose pigment floating around inside your eyes can give you certain types of problems, including glaucoma.
From the article:
"The pigment is there for a reason. If the pigment is lost you can get problems such as glare or double vision," said Larry Benjamin, a consultant eye surgeon at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, in the UK.
Nathan Bonilla-Warford, OD
Bright Eyes Family Vision Care
Located in the Westchase area of Tampa.
Yikes, I have always wanted blue eyes but this method seems way too risky! Unlike elective plastic surgery, you have to remember that you only have one set of eyes…is changing the color really worth it? (I vote no!)