What are the risks of eye-colour surgery? Exploring the highly experimental – and hazardous – methods behind the dangerous TikTok trend, as well as the eye-watering costs

Cosmetic iris implanting, laser pigment removal, keratopigmentation: these new surgical techniques promise what was once in the realm of fiction – but they come at considerable cost Ever fantasised about swapping your eye colour without the hassle of contact lenses? The dream of permanently changing eye colour has not been science-fiction since eye-colour surgery became a reality – but it’s a far cry from being a safe beauty hack. Unsurprisingly, eye-colour-change surgery – which includes methods such as cosmetic iris implantation, laser pigment removal and keratopigmentation – is among the riskiest eye surgeries one can undertake. Despite its growing popularity among social media stars, the reality behind the various procedures is far from glamorous.

With a price tag of around US$12,000 on average and the possibility of serious complications, including blindness, partial vision loss, glaucoma and corneal damage, this sort of eye surgery is no casual beauty fix. And don’t forget, recovery can take anywhere from one to eight weeks – making it clear that this is anything but a simple, carefree transformation. The different types of eye-colour surgery The science behind these procedures might sound hi-tech, but it’s also what makes them so risky.



The first and perhaps most well-known technique is cosmetic iris implantation, where a coloured lens is placed over the natural iris to give the appearance of a different eye colour. Think of it like a permanent contact lens – except instead of a quick, removable solution, this involves a full-blown surgical procedure inside the eye. Next is laser pigment removal, a procedure designed to lighten eye colour permanently.

By reducing melanin in the iris, this method can turn dark brown eyes a shade of blue or green. Finally, there’s the less common but increasingly notorious keratopigmentation, which involves creating a tunnel in the cornea using lasers and placing coloured pigment inside. While these techniques promise a dramatic transformation, they come at a hefty price and with an even greater risk.

Why are these procedures so dangerous?.