Have you ever dreamed of beautiful blue eyes? Of course, to change for a short time, you can use colored lenses, but if you want radical changes, only surgery will help. It is absolutely painless as it is performed under local anesthesia. So what do you need to know if you suddenly want to change the shade of your iris?
Unfortunately, not all people like their eye color. Even those who have beautiful brown eyes sometimes dream of changing their shade. Constantly using decorative optical products is not always convenient and is also quite expensive on the budget, which is why many people decide to undergo surgery. It is also worth noting that some patients undergo surgery for completely different reasons. For example, it may be required in case of coloboma of the iris, when one of its sections is missing, also in case of heterochromia (eyes of different colors) or in the complete absence of the iris. But, in any case, no matter what the indications for surgery are, there are two types: the first is changing eye color using an implant, and the second is laser color correction, when brown eyes become blue.
Changing eye color through surgery - truth or myth?
If you are not satisfied with the color of the iris or there are pathologies that affect the level of melanin in the tissues of the organ of vision, you can correct the situation through surgery. Currently, this trend is gaining momentum; anyone who wants to add something new to their image can become the owner of eyes of incredible color.
The operation is painless. It is carried out using local anesthetics. The risk of complications is minimal, as proven by research data. However, both the method of implantation and laser manipulation have certain risks.
Therefore, qualified ophthalmologists who first examine the eyeball and become familiar with the data of diagnostic procedures can prescribe surgical intervention.
Reference! The technique for changing the color of the iris is new. It has not been fully tested, but is already being practiced in America and Europe.
Indications for use
The main indications for surgery to change eye color are diseases of the iris. This is albinism, when pigmentation of the iris tissue is completely or partially absent, as well as heterochromia, in which the left and right eyes are different in color. These pathologies are characterized not only by a cosmetic defect, but also by a physical one:
- visual acuity decreases;
- Glaucoma and other serious diseases develop.
Melanin is a pigment in the tissues of the iris. It does not have the property of regeneration, so the only way to correct the defect without surgery is with colored lenses. But this method requires repeated replacement of optics, daily care and other measures. This is inconvenient if you constantly use lenses. The operation helps to cope with the problem in a matter of days.
Worldwide Eye Color Percentage
The vast majority of people in the world have brown eyes. The second most common color is blue, but people can also have green, grey, amber or red eyes. Some people's eyes may be different colors.
Brown eyes
An estimated 70-79% of the world's population has brown eyes, making it the most common eye color worldwide. In fact, researchers claim that all people on Earth had brown eyes about 10,000 years ago. Currently, about half of those living in the United States and a higher percentage of people in Africa and Asia have brown eyes. People with brown eyes are less likely to develop eye cancer, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy than people with light eyes. However, brown-eyed people are at greater risk of developing cataracts as they age.
Blue eyes
Blue is the second most common eye color in the world, and it is estimated that 8-10% of people have blue eyes. Scientists believe it is possible to trace all blue-eyed people back to a common ancestor who likely had a genetic mutation that reduced the amount of melanin in the iris. Most people with blue eyes are of European descent.
Hazel eye color
Approximately 5% of the world's population has hazel eyes, which are a mixture of green, orange and gold. These eyes are more common in North Africa, the Middle East and Brazil, as well as in people of Spanish descent.
Amber eyes
Amber eyes, which have slightly more melanin than hazel eyes but not as much as brown eyes, make up about 5% of the world's population. People of Asian, Spanish, South American and South African descent have amber eyes.
Green eyes
According to statistics, 2% of the world's population have green eyes, making them very rare. However, green eyes are very common in some parts of the world, including Ireland and Scotland. In the US, where many people descend from Irish and Scottish ancestors, about 9% of people have green eyes.
Grey eyes
About 3% of the world's population have gray eyes. People with gray eyes have little or no melanin in the iris, but they have more collagen in a part of the eye called the stroma. Light is scattered from the collagen in such a way that the eyes appear gray.
Red or purple eyes
Albino people usually have little or no melanin in their irises. This lack of pigment causes red or purple eyes. Because eye pigmentation is important for vision, people with albinism often have vision problems. A person with albinism may have blurry vision or poor depth perception. May have rapid, involuntary eye movements, be highly sensitive to light, or find their eyes looking in two different directions.
Heterochromia
Heterochromia—in which a person has different eye colors—affects less than 1% of people. The eyes may be completely different from each other, or one part of the iris may be different from the rest. The researchers explain that in people with central heterochromia, the iris has two rings of different colors, while in people with complete heterochromia, one iris has a different color than the other. Some people are born with heterochromia. In other cases, the cause may be an eye injury or health problem.
What eye color can you get?
If you want to change the color of the iris using the laser method, it is impossible to predict the final result. This is due to the following factors:
- individual feature of the visual system;
- melanin concentration level;
- desired tonality.
The process also depends on the qualifications of the doctor who prepares and performs the operation. Even the equipment plays an important role. And yet the main factor is the individual reaction of the iris tissue to the laser.
As a result, we manage to get the following options: walnut, gray, gray-green, gray-blue. If the natural one was not too dark, then the chances of getting blue eyes increase many times over.
Reference! Transformation of the color of the iris using laser surgery is only possible when switching from brown eyes to lighter colors.
If there is a desire to give the iris a certain color, then this can only be done with the help of implants. In this case, the original eye tone does not play a role. The color range during surgical intervention becomes available in almost any design.
When choosing implants, it is worth considering that the silicone plate is a foreign body. Living tissues of the visual system can reject it. Over time, the implant needs to be changed. So you should think it through carefully before making a decision.
Is it possible to change the color of the iris?
5-7% of people have chameleon visual organs, the colors of which vary from blue to brown due to their emotional state, weather conditions or the amount of light.
The most popular methods for changing eye tone include surgery, laser exposure, or wearing lenses. To achieve a permanent effect, it is necessary to dissolve the excess amount of melanin from the iris, which gives it a brown tint. Most medical procedures are aimed at lightening, thanks to which brown can be turned into yellow, gray or blue. It is important to remember that if the pigment is surgically removed, it will be impossible to return the natural tone. To make the iris blacker, it is necessary to additionally pigment it using medicinal drops or eating certain foods. But it is necessary to take into account possible side effects. The safest way is to use lenses.
Types of operations to change eye color
If the method of introducing changes to your image using lenses is not suitable, you should consider the following options.
Implant installation
This is a surgical procedure during which a thin silicone plate is inserted through a small incision in the cornea. The main advantage of the method is that the result is predictable. The patient chooses the tone independently. Moreover, you can change the color not only from a dark tone to a light one, but also vice versa.
After removal of the implant, the native shell remains the same. If the tissues were not damaged while wearing the silicone plate, 100% functionality of the visual apparatus is maintained.
Laser correction
The color of the iris depends on several factors, as well as the individual characteristics of a person. But melanin has the main influence on tonality and shading. Brown eyes contain a high concentration of pigment. In light irises the amount of melanin is much less.
The main task of the laser technique is the destruction of natural pigment molecules. Passing a laser beam along the outer layer of the iris helps destroy melanin. The laser acts gently, destroying only the coloring matter, while the shell itself remains unharmed.
After the operation, the iris darkens, which is especially noticeable in the first week. After a month the shade becomes lighter. This is how a brown-eyed person becomes the owner of blue eyes. The result is irreversible.
Several sessions are required to destroy melanin molecules. The transformation of brown irises into blue is carried out in about 10 treatments.
Healing process after surgery
A patient who decides to undergo laser removal of melanin from the surface of the cornea should be well aware that any surgical intervention requires recovery time, which may be accompanied by unpleasant sensations. Ophthalmologists warn that the following may occur: pain, pain and burning in the eyes, excessive lacrimation, or dry eye syndrome, double vision, sensation of a foreign object, unnatural shade of the iris, headaches, itching, photophobia.
Each of the listed processes is only a possible consequence that may or may not occur, depending on the individual characteristics of the patient’s body. Before the procedure, it is important to mentally prepare for this and remember that recovery lasts no more than one month. And if there are serious complications, you should immediately contact a specialist.
How is the operation performed?
The main stages of the surgical operation:
- administration of local anesthesia;
- fixation of the upper eyelid;
- incision of the corneal membrane near the base;
- installation of a silicone plate between the membrane and the cornea;
- suture;
- prescribing eye drops for further recovery after surgery.
Changing the tone of the iris using a laser is carried out in stages in several sessions. After the 7th procedure, the lightening of the eye tissues becomes noticeable. But the final result is assessed after 1-6 months.
3.What should you pay attention to?
Eye moles do not affect vision in any way. However, a spot in the eye requires special attention and consultation with an ophthalmologist. Normally, the edges of the nevus are clearly defined, the surface is velvety in appearance, and the shape and color do not change significantly. If growth and changes in the spot become noticeable, it is necessary to undergo a series of examinations, and, if necessary, treatment or even removal of the pigment spot. Also alarming symptoms should be:
- blurred vision;
- limited field of view;
- sensation of a foreign object in the eye.
Even if the nevus in the eye is stable and does not cause a person any concern, one must remember that, like any mole, it is extremely undesirable to expose it to ultraviolet radiation and other influences that provoke mutations. In sunny weather, it is very advisable to protect your eyes with dark glasses or at least wear a hat with a visor.
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Further events
The success of surgery to change the color of the iris depends on the qualifications of doctors, the quality of equipment and compliance with the rehabilitation regime.
Rehabilitation
For a quick recovery, doctors recommend following the following recommendations after surgery.
- Follow the regimen of administering drops prescribed by a specialist.
- Protect your eyes from sunlight, wind, dust. Sunglasses are used for these purposes.
- Follow the rules of hygiene to prevent infection of the organ of vision.
- Avoid heavy loads. This restriction applies to physical labor and sports.
- Prevent visual stress (TV, reading books, gadgets, etc.).
- Avoid going to the solarium, swimming pool, or bathhouse.
Possible complications
Due to the fact that operations to change eye color have been practiced not so long ago, all data on complications and limitations are based on the results of studies that were carried out during the development of the technology. According to this information, surgical procedures cannot cause serious complications.
The opinion of some experts contradicts research data in the sense that such manipulations can have a negative effect on vision. The hypotheses are based on the theory that after a significant decrease in the concentration of melanin, the eye becomes sensitive to ultraviolet radiation. Among other things, due to clogging of the canals, which occurs against the background of melanin removal, intraocular pressure increases. This can lead to the development of glaucoma.
After implantation, the following negative manifestations are possible:
- photosensitivity;
- corneal detachment;
- loss of vision;
- severe itching of the eyelids;
- increase in IOP.
Rehabilitation
During the postoperative period, it is important for a person to follow all the specialist’s recommendations:
- You should only go outside wearing sunglasses;
- protect your eyes from dust and other contaminants;
- avoid heavy physical activity;
- do not overstrain your eyesight;
- regularly use drops and other medications prescribed by your doctor;
- temporarily exclude trips to the solarium, swimming pool and sauna.
How much does it cost to change eye color?
In America, surgery to change the color of the iris will cost about $5,000. In Europe – approximately 3,000 euros. A leading clinic in Turkey offers laser surgery for 4,800 euros. The price is for 10 sessions. But the final cost of the procedure is calculated individually depending on the concentration of natural pigment in the iris tissue.
Since the method is under development, this procedure is not offered in Russian clinics. However, according to experts, it will soon become available to a wide range of patients. The predicted price is about 70,000 rubles.
Contraindications
Methods that make it possible to change the tonality of the iris are experimental. Only the test of time will reflect the real risks and difficulties that intervention in the eye tissue provokes. But it has already been proven that these manipulations should not be carried out in the following cases:
- if glaucoma is diagnosed or there is a genetic predisposition to the disease;
- for diabetes mellitus;
- in the presence of cardiovascular pathologies;
- if the patient has a mental disorder (panic attacks, unstable mental mood).
Infancy is also a contraindication.
Reviews
- Olivia, 39 years old
In a Turkish clinic I had laser surgery to change the color of the iris. I decided to change the natural walnut color to blue. It took 8 sessions. The duration of treatment for each iris is approximately 25-30 seconds. There is no pain or discomfort during manipulations. The final result could be assessed a month later. The result is a heavenly shade.
- Anetta, 25 years old
The desire to get emerald eyes has been pursuing me for a long time. Finally the dream has come true! The operation to implant fabulously beautiful implants was performed by highly qualified doctors. No complications were observed after surgery. The tissues did not reject the foreign body, so the rehabilitation was successful. I chose this method because of the opportunity to choose exactly the desired color, and not ephemeral expectations.
Video about surgery to change eye color:
