Ever looked in the mirror and wished your eyes were a different color? Well, turns out a lot of people do - so much that there’s now technology to achieve a change in eye color permanently, from iris implants to corneal tattooing!

If these sound pretty scary to you, we’re here to tell you that your gut is absolutely right. So, let’s dive into the different procedures that’s currently accessible, what they entail, and if it’s actually safe for your eyes. Read on to get to the bottom of this eye-catching topic:

iris Implant Surgery

Is there really a surgery to change eye color? Apparently - yes.

Iris implants are a type of surgical procedure that claim to have permanent effects. During the process, a small, colored silicone disc is inserted into the eye to cover the natural iris, which can give the appearance of a new eye color.

But, these implants are not widely accepted within the medical community due to their potential risks and complications, including corneal damage, glaucoma, and inflammation. What’s more, there’s also limited knowledge on the long-term effects of the procedure, which is why many eye doctors advise against the use of iris implants for a change in eye colour. This procedure is currently not approved by the FDA either, so it’s best to listen to the experts and sit this one out.

Stroma laser System

Also known as corneal tattooing, Keratopigmentation is a cosmetic procedure that can change your eye color semi-permanently. It entails injecting a small amount of pigment into the cornea (just like getting a tattoo), which essentially gives you a new eye color.

This procedure was originally used for patients with corneal opacity problems associated with conditions like keratitis or leucoma, but still remains unapproved for purely cosmetic reasons. What’s more, Keratopigmentation could still put you at risk of complications such as light sensitivity, corneal infection, and other ocular injuries too.

Keratopigmentation

Also known as corneal tattooing, Keratopigmentation is a cosmetic procedure that can change your eye color semi-permanently. It entails injecting a small amount of pigment into the cornea (just like getting a tattoo), which essentially gives you a new eye color.

This procedure was originally used for patients with corneal opacity problems associated with conditions like keratitis or leucoma, but still remains unapproved for purely cosmetic reasons. What’s more, Keratopigmentation could still put you at risk of complications such as light sensitivity, corneal infection, and other ocular injuries too.

Color Changing Eye Drops

You’ve probably seen these all over Instagram: those sponsored influencer posts about eye drops that seem to magically transform your eye color without any side effects? Yup, those are the ones. Well, we hate to break it to you, but they're unlikely to work—and would cost you thousands of dollars worth of bottles before you can allegedly ‘see the effects’.

You see, these drops aren’t that different from your typical lubricating drops: the only ‘special’ ingredient is N-acetylglucosamine, which brands are making out to have eye color changing properties since the ingredient is normally used to lighten and inhibit melanin production.

But, these claims were based on studies for age spots and hyperpigmentation on the skin, with N-acetylglucosamine combined with niacinamide. While proven effective, there’s little research on how effective N-acetylglucosamine alone is on lightening the skin, so, what more for your eyes?

Unsurprisingly, they aren’t approved by the FDA either, so best to save your money and go for a safer (and more affordable) alternative, which we’ll be talking about next!

Try Colored Contacts Instead

Colored contact lenses give you a whole new look, minus the commitment and risky side effects of change of eye color surgery. The best part? You also get the flexibility of experimenting with different eye colors as much as you want, from the lightest of blues to the most stunning of hazels. And with lenses as natural, lightweight, and comfortable as ours, you might even forget that you’re wearing colored contacts!

Explore our wide range of affordable, trendy, and quality lenses here on EyeCandys and get the eye color of your dreams today.