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    New surgery claims to turn brown eyes blue

    By Joanna Douglas, Senior Fashion and Beauty Editor | Fashion – Thu, Nov 3, 2011 6:30 PM EDT

    Kate Bosworth was born with heterochromia so she has one blue eye and one brown eye—the best of both worlds. Photo by Getty ImagesKate Bosworth was born with heterochromia so she has one blue eye and one brown eye—the …In the never-ending quest for vanity, one surgeon in Laguna Beach, California think he's found a way to turn brown eyes blue. After 10 years of research Dr. Gregg Homer of Stroma Medical says he's discovered that brown pigment can be removed from the surface of the iris with a laser leaving the rarer blue pigment underneath. Dr. Homer told KTLA that the body expels the altered tissue and changing brown eyes to blue ones within two to three weeks.

    Thus far Dr. Homer says tests have shown no signs of tissue damage, but naturally there could be negative side effects that have are yet undetected. While he still has about a year of research remaining, he expects the procedure will be available outside the US in 18 months, and in the US within three years. The 20-second laser surgery will cost around $5,000. Apparently "thousands" of people have emailed Dr. Homer expressing interest in the iris transformation.

    Since this sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel, we contacted Dr. Conswalla Shavers, a surgeon at Park Avenue Lasek in New York City, for a little medical insight. She laughed at the description of this procedure and said it was unnecessarily dangerous with many potential side effects. "I'd imagine that the risks would outweigh the benefits in a patient," she said. "It could release too much pigment into the anterior chamber that can clog up the draining system in the eye. This makes the pressure go up and causes glaucoma."

    Is the prospect of blue eyes worth permanent vision damage? We think not. And Dr. Shavers says there's no guarantee you'll even end up with baby blues. "What's to ensure there's definitely blue pigment underneath? You could remove brown pigmentation and there's just more brown pigmentation underneath." Blue eyes are a recessive trait, but even if your parents are carriers there's no way of knowing what shade, if any, lies at the bottom of the iris. That said, Dr. Shavers isn't all that surprised by the procedure or that people are taking an interest in it. "When it comes to vanity there's nothing you wouldn't put past the human condition," she said.

    Bottom line: Dr. Shavers doesn't believe the procedure is worth it and she'd never consider performing it herself. "Colored contact lenses would be far less risky. You wont have any potential side effects and it will guarantee the color."

    Related links:
    Diamond contact lenses-would you try them?
    How do we feel about colored contact lenses?
    The Best Shadows for Your Eye Color



     

    25 comments

    • Irenie
      Irenie  •  Wallingford, Connecticut  •  2 months ago
      Of all the fictionally drawn Disney cartoons, Bambi, with his brown eyes, are the most beautiful. Blue eyes are gorgeous butI'm happy with what I have. I would NEVER risk my vision to have blue. Be happy with what you have. What good is changing the color if you can't see it?
    • House Of Yum
      House Of Yum  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  2 months ago
      Hey you fakers, you can't be us, so don't try! Be happy with what you have.
      All eye colors are beautiful.
    • Hattie D
      Hattie D  •  3 months ago
      Wth? Brown eyes and green eyes are gorgeous.
    • O.G.
      O.G.  •  Cicero, Illinois  •  3 months ago
      Let's see who's dumb enough to try this.
    • sonny
      sonny  •  Los Angeles, California  •  3 months ago
      I love my brown eyes! Most guys love brown eyes too! I never had anyone say, "too bad you have brown eyes!" GMAB!!!
    • Ally
      Ally  •  3 months ago
      Unbelievable! Now everyone can look the same! Reminds me of an episode from the Twilight Zone.........Will those who choose to stay as they are be outcasts?
      • Hattie D
        Hattie D 3 months ago
        Know exactly what episode you are talking about. This is creepy.
    • Lori
      Lori  •  Colman, South Dakota  •  3 months ago
      This is totally stupid. Why doesnt science work on things like curing cancer...but this? Come on.
      • Hattie D
        Hattie D 3 months ago
        Agree!! Why not put that money toward something that really matters?
      • Consuela
        Consuela 3 months ago
        We were born with the eyes we got. Can't we be grateful that our two eyes can see the world. Let's find a cure for cancer and not worry about what color our eyes are.
    • disgusted
      disgusted  •  San Luis Obispo, California  •  3 months ago
      What's wrong with having brown eyes?
    • TheEndOfObamagedden
      TheEndOfObamagedden  •  3 months ago
      Bwa ha ha haaa!!! I have green eyes that turn light olive, gray and blue depending on what kind of light I'm under and what color shirt I'm wearing. My wife has the most beautiful hazel eyes and I'd not want them changed for anything.
    • LuvmyBoo
      LuvmyBoo  •  3 months ago
      Eeeww. Why on earth would anyone want to change from brown to blue??? Blue eyes fade with age and look hollow and nasty!!
    • samuraishonan
      samuraishonan  •  Yamato-shi, Japan  •  3 months ago
      My third eye is brown.
    • Natally
      Natally  •  Kalamazoo, Michigan  •  4 months ago
      As a teacher for the blind and visually impaired, this idea really scares me!
    • Mary ann
      Mary ann  •  Milford, New Hampshire  •  4 months ago
      Can we please concentrate on curing blindness or cancer first? Geeze....buy colered contacts!!
    • EnchantedSweetheart
      EnchantedSweetheart  •  Raleigh, North Carolina  •  3 months ago
      I'm ashamed to admit I am considering getting this. I'm an eighteen year old girl, Spanish/Ukrainian/Israeli. My whole family has dark hair, eyes and skin and I have big almond shaped dark brown eyes. I used to think they were beautiful, in fact they were my favorite feature. But nobody else thinks brown eyes are pretty and I'm starting to hate them :(.

      The people commenting here are saying anyone who gets this is stupid, pathetic ect. But brown eyes are considered ugly and that is hard to live with.
      • Hattie D
        Hattie D 3 months ago
        Brown eyes are not considered ugly! What are you thinking?! Brown eyes are beautiful and you need to appreciate yourself for your natural beauty.
      • PF4L
        PF4L 3 months ago
        Your young still, have fun with different colored contacts instead of risking eye damage. Besides blue is overrated and cold.....brown is deep and warm! : )
    • Donna
      Donna  •  Kingman, Arizona  •  4 months ago
      If you want blue eyes you don't have to risk going through surgery, just buy blue contacts..............
    • Brenda B
      Brenda B  •  Charlotte, North Carolina  •  4 months ago
      Be happy with what God gave you.
    • Edgar
      Edgar  •  Studio City, California  •  4 months ago
      I like my brown eyes... thanks tho. Donnn't you make my brown eyes bluuueee..... good song
    • CampfireKitten
      CampfireKitten  •  Santa Clara, California  •  4 months ago
      It's the risk factor that would make me say no. I've always wanted blue eyes, but given the risk, I would never take a chance on losing my eyesight. That is the ONE sense I would never want to lose out of all of them. I've thought about getting the colored contacts but I keep forgetting about it LOL So I guess it's not really that high on my list of priorities LOL
    • Thin-Line
      Thin-Line  •  5 months ago
      Hey What is wrong wirh brown eyes? My eyes are blue--- but most of the real nice people I know have brown eyes.
    • Ramiro Guerrero
      Ramiro Guerrero  •  5 months ago
      I seem to remember a certain German doctor in the 40's trying to do the same thing ! Is this doctor a NAZI ?
     Post a comment

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