The Laser Treatment That Permanently Changes Your Eye Color

Listen up brown-eyed girls; If you’ve always wished for baby blues, there’s a new, innovative treatment at California-based company Stroma Medical that’s permanently giving patients the blue eyes they’ve always dreamed of. According to their website, all eyes are blue underneath a thin layer of pigmented tissue. Stroma Medical uses a laser to remove this layer of pigment and claim the full color change reveals within four weeks. We asked optometrist Arti Shah OD, FAAO about the new service and explored a few options for getting our peepers to pop without going under the laser.

Feeling Blue?

Photo: Courtesy of NARS

How do we know this is safe?

“There are not enough clinical studies on humans to determine the long-term safety and efficacy of this procedure. It is very likely it’ll take several years before it gets a seal of approval from the FDA.”

Photo: Courtesy of NARS

Are colored contacts a better, less permanent option?

“Eye enhancement lenses are ideal for anyone looking to make their eyes pop. A contact lens is a FDA-approved medical device, but all, even purely cosmetic ones, require a prescription.”

Photo: Courtesy of NARS

What makes an eye look more attractive?

“Research shows that people are more attracted to eyes with defined limbal rings (the dark ring around the iris). It provides a clear distinction between the iris and the sclera (the white of the eye), creating a visually bigger and brighter looking eye.”

Photo: Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana

How can we enhance our limbal ring?

"1-DAY ACUVUE® DEFINE™ is an eye enhancement lens designed to accentuate the eye’s limbal ring. This is different from traditional colored contact lenses which generally have opaque, artificial patterns. These are daily disposable contact lenses that are intended to be incorporated into a daily beauty routine. Wearers can insert a clean, fresh pair into their eyes each day and dispose of the lenses after each use.”