Fashions that will meet today’s beauty standards no longer just include the clothes or accessories we wear. As we said in Magnetplastic surgeries have been increasing in recent years, celebritiessocial networks (and their filters) and what some experts refer to as “dysmorphism of the mind.” selfies“People want to look like their Instagram idol and they don’t mind resorting to a physical change to achieve that.

However, these operations are no longer what they used to be: they are no longer just enlarge the breasts or hips or we are talking about more complicated interventions such as nose or chin shaping. change eye color. Suggested operations influencers from all over the world despite the existing medical illiteracy.

A few days ago, A tiktoker with a small number of followers talked about the surgery he had recently. and (he was very confident) recommended his operation to other users: “Results after 48 hours. No filters, very heavy. It didn’t look bad to me before but hah, it’s just great with blue-green eyes. They’re still a little uncomfortable, they’re a little red so I have to wear drops but let’s go for a second check and they’re recovering very well, I’m very happy. Only 45 minutes of intervention with local anesthesia”.

video was fast taken by an optics and optometry studentExpressing why it is not recommended to perform these surgeries and the dangers behind the practice, Dr. thing to do long-term blindness Because you have blue eyes And that’s the truth they tell us influencersperhaps out of ignorance,” he points out.

A tiktok user talks about the results of the eye color change operation suggested by some influencers. pic.twitter.com/G8xF78gRxj

— Cooltura (@coolturabasura) March 5, 2023

As he explainedin this type of surgery “a laser will remove the pigment from the iris and your eyes will remain blue. The problem is that when the laser passes, the pigment does not disappear or break down, but instead accumulates in the aqueous humor, the anterior chamber of the eye, and this area has no drainage function, so clogging ends This causes increased intraocular pressure, leading to diseases such as glaucoma, optic nerve damage, vitreous and retinal detachments. In the long run: blindness”.

Having a different eye color has always been among the wishes of many people. There are even silicone contact lenses to provide this temporarily. But now there is also the possibility to change the eye color permanently. laser surgeries. Ongoing interventions during the trial period in many countries, in others they are not even allowed. For example, in the US, it is still pending approval by the FDA..

A dangerous and forbidden trend

And not in vain. In recent years several influencers They reported going blind after undergoing similar operations. Nadinne Bruna, for example, wanted to have clear eyes and it cost him his vision. He resorted to a surgical procedure in Bogotá that consisted of placing silicone implants. illegal in the USA. His eyes changed, yes, but the surgery proved fatal to his vision. “I have chronic and irreversible damage today, I’ve already had eight surgeries and I’m in rehab three times a week in a blind clinic where they taught me to live this new life,” the model said.

Amber Luke also warned on her social networks about the risks of getting an eye tattoo, another type of operation to change eye color. Three weeks after his intervention, vision loss temporary. This influencers He described his ordeal as follows:They lasted a painful 40 minutes and required 4 interventions in each eye.. I feel like my eyes are being rubbed with pieces of glass.”

However, to start talking about this surgical procedure, you must first understand in detail what biologically determines eye color and what these operations consist of. As experts explainthe tone of our eyes depends on: amount of melanin we have the iris. The people with the greatest number tend to have brown or black eyes, and those with the least have blue, green, or honey-colored eyes.

Also, our eye color depends on genetics. While the exact incidence level is unknown, scientists have managed to identify at least two of the most influential genes: The OCA2 gene that produces a protein called Pand the HER2 gene located on chromosome 15.

What is the operation about? What risks does it have?

One of the most used techniques is iris depigmentation, which consists of: use a laser to burn pigment from the iris (melanin). This destroyed pigment passes into the aqueous humor of the eye and hopefully washes out. Although this is not always the case. Theoretically, this technique makes it possible to lighten the eye color, as it destroys the substance that gives it its color. But you can not get any shade, the eyes can only remain blue.

Another method is keratopigmentationconsists of coloring the cornea with dye. A kind of eye tattoo. It is less aggressive as it is not reversible and permanent. However, it should not be forgotten that the pigments must be biocompatible for the eye and may cause permanent eye dryness.

Despite its existence, The Spanish Society of Ophthalmology generally does not recommend placing any implant in the iris for aesthetic purposes. until there are tests and studies that show that these procedures are better regulated to avoid any risk affecting our vision health. In fact, the organization believes that depigmentation of the iris for aesthetic reasons does not provide any guarantee of safety as some complications are more likely to occur.

According to the Bavarian clinicamong the most notable risks, it is worth mentioning its appearance glaucomaIt occurs as a result of damage to the optic nerve. higher intraocular pressure than usual. This may lead to irreversible vision loss that requires indefinite treatment and even surgery in cases with inadequate response.

On the other hand, Dr. According to Federico TrejosAnother complication that can be expected when removing any degree of natural iris pigmentation is ” photophobia, or unusual intolerance to light It has a chronic nature, which is also motivated by changes in pupil size.” He points out that “temporary intraocular inflammation can occur, which can cause unexpected sequelae, although it can be treated with medication.”