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This risky trend is iris-istable.
An ophthalmologist with 3.4 million followers on TikTok has gone viral due to his specialization in changing people’s eye color permanently.
Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler has revealed the results of his work on social media, showing before and after results.
“It’s cosmetic surgery but for the eyes,” the 57-year-old told What’s The Jam.
“If people elect to have breast augmentation, face lifts and Botox, then why not change their eye color as well? If that’s what some people dream of having,” he said.
The surgical procedure, called keratopigmentation, changes the color of the eye by injecting pigment into the cornea, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Also referred to as eye tattooing, the process permanently changes the cornea from clear to opaque and covers over the natural iris color inside.
But it doesn’t come cheap.
The elective cosmetic surgery will cost $6,000 per eye — so unless you’re opting for mismatched eye colors, that’s $12,000 total.
While the Los Angeles-based doctor isn’t dying to try the procedure himself, he feels very rewarded when he sees how people react to the changes.
“After the procedure my patients are amazed. Incredibly happy, sometimes crying with tears of joy,” he shared.
Wachler added that “overall,” the procedure is “very safe.”
“No loss of vision in healthy eyes without prior LASIK,” he said. “Sometimes scratchiness or light sensitivity, but that’s temporary.”
He starts the procedure by using an “advanced laser” to create a circular-shaped tunnel in the cornea. Then, he uses custom-made tools to extend the outer diameter of the channel created by the tunnel to match the natural edge of the cornea for a more natural appearance. Lastly, he injects ink into the channels to alter the eye color.
The color change is “instant,” Wachler said, adding that it takes just 20 minutes with one day for recovery.
Color options include emerald green, evergreen, riviera blue and Paris blue, but the most popular colors are honey gold, steel grey and olive green.
One video with 9.2 million views shows a collection of patients who changed the color of their pupils reacting to seeing it for the first time, with many of them crying happy tears.
But people in the comments section seem to have a different opinion.
“Not even if I hated myself,” one person said.
“This feels so dystopian,” another admitted.
“My eye color is the LAST thing I would change about me,” someone quipped.
“How is this even legal,” a user questioned.
“Imagine risking being blind for life to look like a literal demon,” one said.
“This is scarier than any horror film I have seen,” a commenter added.
Wachler has seen “hundreds” of clients at Boxer Wachler Vision Institute over the past few years at this clinic in Beverly Hills.
Changing eye color can significantly impact self-perception and interpersonal interactions,” he explained. “Many individuals see their eye color as integral to their identity and choose to change it for self-expression or to enhance alignment between their inner self and outward appearance.”
“This alteration can boost self-esteem and confidence, particularly if the new eye color resonates with cultural or familial significance.”
