A new type of cosmetic surgery allows patients to permanently change the colour of their eyes. Previously, people looking to change their eye colour typically turned to coloured contact lenses. However NewColorIris is a new intraocular implant that can change the colour of the eyes.

NewColorIris isn’t just for those who want to change their appearance this implant can also be used to improve the ocular appearance of patients with partial coloboma (congenital defects of the iris), traumatic irides, ocular albinism and iris heterochromia.

The eye implant itself is a diaphragm that covers the eye’s natural iris. It is made from biocompatible materials that are currently used in cataract surgery, therefore is very safe. The implants themselves are manufactured in the US and are FDA approved, although the procedure is not yet licensed in Europe.

The iris implants are inserted under local anaesthetic and the whole process should be painless and only take a few minutes to complete. The implants do not correct eyesight therefore pre-operation eyesight will be the same as post-op and if you require glasses before the operation, you will require them after. The surgery can be performed on those who have astigmatism. Vision will be blurry for up to four days after the operation and during this period, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eyedrops must be used.

Side effects can be severe though. A recent case highlighted in British newspaper the Daily Mail showed the story of the first person in the UK to undergo the coloured lens transplant.

After the cosmetic surgery, her eyesight remained bad and over a week later, she was barely able to read the top line of an optician’s eye chart her sight was so bad that she officially could have been registered as blind. Fortunately, her eyesight was saved by a British surgeon however she now has a greater risk of cataracts and glaucoma later in life.