When will eye color changing become a reality?

Over the years there have been several attempts made by
surgeons to develop procedures to permanently change eye color. Usually, the change desired is from a
darker (brown) to a lighter (blue or green) color. Over the last 10 years, a Panamanian doctor has tried to
develop an implant called New Color Iris, a colored disc inserted into the
front of the eye. This procedure
was riddled with complications and side effects.

More recently, a Southern California company called Stroma
Medical has been working on laser technology to lighten eye color. All eyes are technically “brown.” At least the pigment in everyone’s eyes
is brown, it’s just that people with lighter colored eye have less brown
pigment. Stroma Medical’s approach
is to laser the pigment to destroy it, lightening the overall color of the eye.
Early studies are being done, it
is not FDA approved at this point.

To me, it is clear there is a demand for this type of
procedure, and it is simply a matter of time until the right procedure, one
that is above all safe, and secondly, one that works, will become generally
available. My prediction, within
the next 10 years…

I have surgically implanted artificial irises for patients who have experienced a traumatic injury, and those who suffer from a condition called aniridia (those born without an iris). Although this procedure allows the patient to choose their eye color, I do not recommend it as a cosmetic avenue for changing the color of one's eyes. Artificial irises do not constrict or dilate with changing lighting conditions. It can, however, be an excellent solution for patients who need to repair or replace their natural iris due to an injury.