HEALTHY LIVING
The Eyes Have It!
New ofice procedure lets you change eye color permanently. ::
BY JUDY KOUTSKY I
magine having the power to change the color of your eyes — not just with contact lenses, but through a permanent surgical
procedure. Now it is a reality. Eye color
alteration surgery is gaining interest as an option for people seeking a transformation that goes beyond temporary aesthetics. “A technique called
keratopigmentation, which permanently changes the color of the eyes, was first introduced as a medical procedure in 2016,” explains Alexander Movshovich, M.D., a board-certified ophthalmologist with practices in New York and New Jersey. “It was then used for cosmetic
purposes starting in 2018 and has become popular in recent years. “The procedure consists of the
placing of the pigment of choice into the channel inside of the cornea made by the laser,” explains Movshovich, who’s also a clinical assistant professor of ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medical College. “That will cover the underlying
88 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | MARCH 2025
pigment of the iris, which is inside of the eye, behind the cornea.” Movshovich, who has performed
more than 1,000 of the procedures, says it is done in the office with a local anesthetic and takes about 30 minutes. When asked why people would
want to have the surgery electively, he explains, “Some people feel that they are born with the wrong eye color. Some even dream about the specific color almost from childhood.” Most people who want to change
their eye color can likely have the procedure, says Movshovich, however, it’s not recommended for those who have had full corneal replacement or radial keratotomy (an outdated surgical procedure used to correct nearsightedness that has been replaced with modern refractive surgeries, such as LASIK). Also, people with advanced glaucoma, extreme cases of dry eye, and several other conditions are at greater risk for complications. During the appointment, you
can see simulated photos of how the various eye color options would look on you. “There are three groups of color
options that include three shades of blue, green, or brown, for a total of nine options,” says Movshovich. However, not all those in the optical
Some people feel that they are born with the wrong eye color. Some even dream about the specific color almost from childhood.”
— Alexander Movshovich, M.D.
world are fans of this procedure. “Keratopigmentation is a
controversial procedure that is not FDA-approved,” says Jovi Boparai, M.D., an ophthalmic surgeon and cofounder and CEO of Philadelphia- based CorneaCare. “While it may allow patients to
lighten their eye color, it carries significant risks. In my opinion, the risks from the procedure are not worth the benefits.” According to the American
Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), potential risks include damage to the cornea, light sensitivity, infection, and leakage of the dye into the eye. The AAO and Boparai say the
safest way to change eye color is to consult your eye doctor to determine if you are a candidate for colored contact lenses. A recent European study to determine the safety and effectiveness of keratopigmentation found that the potential side effects, which are similar to LASIK vision correction surgery and include mild pain, dry eye, tingling, sensitivity to light, and blurry vision, were common in patients undergoing the procedure. However, most of the side effects
cleared within two days, and all were resolved in seven days. Keratopigmentation costs about
$12,000, and because it is a cosmetic procedure, it is not covered by insurance.
PEAKSTOCK©ISTOCK
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100
