Changing iris color
Genetics plays an essential role in determining your eye color, which often darkens with age and is fully matured in infancy. However, some people would like a change in their natural eye color.
If a person wants to change their iris color temporarily, it is possible with the use of contact lenses. Iris implant surgeries can bring about permanent changes in eye color. But it carries its risks. So, doctors often do not recommend iris implant surgeries.
Changing your iris color temporarily
Using colored contact lenses is a common and easy way to change or intensify your iris color for a short time. Three varieties of lenses are available:
- Enhancement lenses
- Visibility lenses
- Opaque lenses
1. Enhancement lenses:
Enhancement lenses are semi-opaque. They do not fully alter the eye colour but make it more prominent and can intensify it.
2. Visibility lenses
Visibility lenses are slightly tinted, and they slightly alter the eye colour in those individuals who have a lighter colour of their eyes.
These lenses are slightly tinted to help people see their lenses in the case or when the lenses are dropped.
3. Opaque lenses
Opaque lenses are fully coloured lenses and cover the iris entirely. These lenses allow people to change their eye colour completely and work best for people with a darker eye colour who wish to achieve a spectacularly lighter colour. Opaque lenses come in a variety of colours such as green, grey, blue, hazel, light brown, and violet.
Risks associated with the use of contact lenses
As in the case of corrective lenses, decorative lenses also have certain associated risk factors. The recommendation is to purchase cosmetic or decorative lenses from sources that require a prescription and are FDA-approved. Optometrists generally fit the contacts to reduce the risk of contamination.
The risk factors associated with using lenses without a prescription include:
- Blurry vision
- Blindness/ vision loss
- Watery, itchy eyes
- Scratched cornea
Changing your iris color permanently
Iris implant surgery is one option by which you can change your eye color permanently. In general, iris implant surgery replaces or repairs the iris following an injury or trauma. Since this procedure replaces the iris completely, people who wish to change their eye color opt for this procedure.
But it carries its risks, and doctors usually do not recommend it.
Complications of iris implant surgery
The following complications may be encountered:
- Swelling of the cornea
- Glaucoma
- Injury to the cornea
- Corneal edema
- Cataracts
- Inflammation of the eye (uveitis)
- Blindness/ vision loss
FAQs
Q1. Can eye colour change naturally with time?
No, your eye color cannot change with time, as eye color is determined by the amount of a pigment called melanin. A greater amount of melanin means a darker color of your eyes. Similarly, the lesser the melanin, the lighter your eye color would be. Your eye color becomes fixed in infancy and remains the same throughout life. However, in some instances, such as in case of injury or due to genetic reasons, the eye color can change.
Q2. Do the use of lukewarm water and honey help in changing eye colour naturally?
Some people use honey and tepid/ lukewarm water to lighten their eye color. But it is not a safe practice as tepid water is not sterile and can result in eye infections. Honey drops in the eye can attract bacteria and result in an eye infection.
Q3. Can eating carrots change iris color naturally?
Many people think eating carrots will gradually make the eye color lighter and orangy. But currently, there is no proven research that suggests carrots can significantly change eye color. However, eating carrots is good for eyesight.
Likes this article? Check our services
