Essay on Cosmetic Eye Color Implants

In 2008, a woman by the name of Anita traveled to Panama in desperate need of wanting to permanently change her eye color. She had a doctor by the name of Dr. Delarey Kahn to perform a surgery on her to permanently change her eye color by inserting a silicone disc on top of her irises in her eye. When she began to have compilations, she attempted to contact Dr. Delarey Kahn multiple times about her current situation but she never managed to receive a response. Cosmetic eye color implants were originally created to help people with undeveloped irises in 2002. They are now mostly used for cosmetic and aesthetic purposes. Countries such as America have banned this surgery due to the risks involved that are linked to the implants. Since it is illegal to have this procedure in the US, people who are interested in permanently changing their eye color must travel to third-world countries. Companies such as BrightOcular and NewColorIris are the most infamous companies that use these implants.  Cosmetic eye color implants around the world should be outlawed due to the severe complications that may be permanent and how it can even cause a large portion of anyone’s vision who had this procedure to be greatly decreased.

To begin, cosmetic eye color implants have not been approved by the FDA and are highly discouraged. “Cosmetic implants are neither CE-marked nor Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved…” Cosmetic eye color implants have not been officially approved by the Food and Drug administration. This means the procedure has been outlawed in multiple countries. This matters because if implants have not been CE-marked or been approved by the FDA, it has been discovered a high amount of dangerous and severe side effects can occur among their placement and negatively impact the quality of life for many. To add on, since it is illegal in countries such as the United States, consumers who are interested in having this procedure done must pay large amounts of money to travel to third-world countries. “Finally, cosmetic iris implants have been surrounded by growing malpractice controversy. Even if not approved, they continue to be used in some countries, leading to tremendous complications.” Eye color implants are strongly discouraged by the public and trained professionals who have experience in the medical and surgical fields. This evidence matters because highly trained professionals with years of experience have considered the practice of eye color implants as malpractice due to the amount of severe complications that has impacted the vision and quality of life of many patients showing a lack of research involved in the making and implantation of cosmetic eye color implants. Cosmetic eye color implants cause severe issues that have resulted in their demise in multiple countries and are surrounded by controversy and risks that are linked to a lack of expertise in the medical field.

Severe and possibly permanent complications may occur after implantation of cosmetic eye color implants that could cause blindness and even lead to difficult procedures for the rest of the patient’s life. “...and lead to severe complications arising from their placement including uveitis, hyphema, glaucoma, cataract, corneal endothelial damage and severe vision loss.” Furthermore, cosmetic eye color implants are linked to over six different eye problems that can cause blindness or a large amount of a person’s eyesight to be reduced. This evidence matters because it directly states the major and eye-damaging complications that anyone who has had this procedure is at risk of. Eye problems such as Glaucoma is known as intocular pressure, also known as eye pressure. It is one of the leading causes of blindness that can cause irreversible or permanent eye-damage and vision loss if poorly treated. Uveitis is a form of eye inflammation that can worsen quickly that can also cause a patient to blind likewise to Glaucoma. Complications as such are serious and life-ruining. “Corneal graft surgery may be required in eyes with previous Glaucoma surgery, which is more challenging because the anterior segment is usually abnormal due to either synchiae or the presence of a Glaucoma tube.” After explanation of the cosmetic eye color implants, procedures are needed for any complications in the eye. This evidence matters because if the implants require different surgeries on a patient after implantation to help treat complications, the product is clearly unsafe for anyone to use. If the complications are so severe multiple procedures must be done, more tests and studies must be conducted by the makers of the implant in order to prove the product is safe. Permanent, irreversible eye problems that are caused by cosmetic eye color implants have to be treated with various different procedures and surgeries to help manage any abnormal eye activity. Proving these implants are detrimental, and harmful to anybody who uses them.

While it may be true that not every pair of eyes will be impacted by cosmetic eye color implants, a variety of studies have shown most people will be at risk of experiencing problems associated with the implants. Admittedly, not every patient who has had cosmetic eye color implants will be affected by the implants. The implants can give people confidence through the power of changing one’s eyes to the desired color by the patient. Reports show most patients who have had the procedure suffer from some form of a complication after implantation of the implants. “Of the 65 eyes analyzed, only five eyes (7.7%) did not experience any complication, and 60 eyes (92.3%) had at least one complication.” A vast majority of those who had the plants implanted into their eyes experienced at least one complication. This shows that based on research, the implants have a high risk of negatively affecting the overall health of a person’s eyes. This is important because if it has become known that most or a large portion of people who pay for eye color implants have had their eyes damaged by the product despite the procedures being performed by professionals, the implant itself is dangerous and no one should ever have to risk their eyesight to feel more confident about themself. “Eleven subjects had ocular manifestations including anterior uveitis (83.3%), glaucoma (58.3%), and corneal decompensation…” According to a study conducted by Manseur et al, eleven patients who have had a procedure for cosmetic eye color implants, a vast majority of them had complications. This is valuable information because it shows how risky it is for consumers to travel to a different country only to receive a faulty product that causes eye problems, making life difficult. The practice of cosmetic eye color implants has a high probability rate of experiencing complications that affects a majority of patients who get them.