As the saying goes, the eyes are the windows to the soul. So what does it mean to wish you were a special color?
Apparently enough people share the will to create a buzzing marketplace for color-changing eye drops, that are making the rounds through social media and online retailers.
Customizing eye color might be tempting, especially for younger people and those that enjoy experimenting with fashion or style elements. But are over-the-counter, color-changing eye drops secure? The answer is a powerful no, in keeping with the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), which recently issued a warning against “eye color changing solutions.”
Why Shouldn't You Try Color Changing Eye Drops?
Color-changing eye drops aren't FDA-approved, haven't been tested for safety or effectiveness, and may potentially harm people's eyes. AAO warns..
How do eye drops work?
It shouldn't be clear. The corporations that manufacture the drops claim that the products adjust the extent of melanin within the iris, the pigmented a part of the eyeball. Clearly, the results start to indicate inside hours and may last for per week or more. If a user wants long-lasting results, he has to proceed using the product.
But these claims show an entire lack of evidence that the drops have any effect on the iris, much less the intended effect, says Dr Boland.
“I've got zero explanation of how they work in terms of a viable mechanism,” he says. The ingredient list includes things which might be present in other eye drops or medications and even cosmetics, but nothing that may actually change your eye color.”
How can drops harm your eyes?
The AAO lists several potential safety risks from using these products or another unregulated eye drops, including:
- inflammation
- Infection
- Light sensitivity
- Increased eye pressure or glaucoma
- Permanent vision loss.
“All those problems are possible, because we have no real idea what's in those bottles,” says Dr. Boland. “The biggest concern is damage to the cornea, the clear front of the eye. If the chemicals in these bottles damage the cornea, you can lose your vision.”
Are there secure alternatives to changing eye color?
Still in search of a strategy to achieve, say, Taylor Swift's electric blue eyes or Julia Roberts' golden brown pouts? There is one reliable option, says Dr. Boland: coloured contact lenses. But he recommends selecting this selection with caution.
“Professionally prescribed and dispensed contact lenses are a safe way to change your eye color,” he says. “But don't buy them online. Get them from a reputable source to make sure they're regulated and rated for safety, because contacts can cause eye damage if they're not used properly. Not designed or kept clean.”