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

- April 04, 2025

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.

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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?

The eye is one of the most delicate and complex organs in the human body and tampering with its structure can have severe consequences. In iris implants and laser pigment removal, complications range from vision loss and blindness to glaucoma and uveitis, a painful inflammation of the eye. In keratopigmentation, there's the added risk of corneal damage, which can result in scarring and permanent vision problems. These aren't minor side effects either: they're serious, life-altering complications that often lead to irreversible damage.

One of the scariest aspects of eye-colour surgery is the lack of regulation. Procedures like keratopigmentation are not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and operations are often performed in countries where regulation is minimal.

But despite the potential dangers, the demand for these surgeries is growing. On platforms such as TikTok , videos of dramatic transformations go viral, showing off the allure of attractive, unique eye colours. Yet behind the glamorous results, many are overlooking the alarming reality: problems are more common than not. With a complication rate of up to 92.3 per cent, there's a greater chance of things going wrong than a perfect outcome.

Medical professionals have long warned about the risks of unnecessary eye surgery. Dr Colin McCannel, a professor of clinical ophthalmology at the University of California, Los Angeles, told Healthline he advises against procedures that interfere with the eye's natural function. The eye isn't something to experiment with - once vision is lost, it's rarely recoverable.

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