I'd like to know how the laser treatment that changes eye color permanently is different from implants? Are there similar risks?

Stroma Medical is a medical device startup in Southern California.  They are working on a laser to change eye color by altering the pigment in the iris.  Stroma is in their early stages of investigation, and it is likely this procedure will first be done outside the US where the regulatory environment is a bit easier for the manufacturer to work with.Risks are not known yet because it is a new procedure which has not been fully tested.

There is no such laser in existence. Lasers can reshape the cornea, cut flaps, treat glaucoma but eye color change is not a function of any known laser system.