Be it the young generation or those ready to enter the senior section, tattoos are surely in trend for any age. Some get it done on the hands, wrist, back, neck, legs, and some on the entire body. But have you heard of eyeball tattoos?
An eyeball tattoo is the latest limit to getting a design crafted for body reform. As the name suggests, the eyeball tattoo is a tattoo carried out in the white area of the eye. But is it safe to get a tattoo in that area? What are the Eye Tattoo Side Effects or risks associated with the eye tattoo? Can it even cost you your vision?
Well, today we have all the answers related to eyeball tattoos you might be scrolling on the internet.
Eyeball Tattoo or Sclera Tattoo: What is this new trend?
Also known as the Sclera tattoo, the eye tattoo is a cosmetic body-reform technique widely in demand these days, particularly among the youth. Considered among the extreme tattoos, the main focus of this tattoo is to change the color of the sclera (the white area of the eye) or make certain designs there. However, people going for this tattoo mostly change the color of the eyeballs rather than making designs in it. This is the reason it is also known as ‘tattoo of an eyeball‘.
Wait, are you confusing eyeball tattoos with corneal tattoos? Let’s make it clear here. Corneal tattoos improve the faces of the cornea with different hues. While eyeball tattoos focus on changing the color of the sclera. Corneal tattoos are at times also carried out by doctors to justify certain conditions or scars, but it is still dangerous.
Is Eyeball Tattoo a Safe Procedure?
Truly speaking, eyeball tattoos are highly unregulated, irreversible, and dangerous. Many countries have banned eyeball tattoos as they are highly risky. The eye tattoo side effects can be very dangerous. They are recommended only to patients with certain eye abnormalities and can be carried out only by doctors.
The primary point that makes it dangerous is that the tattoo isn’t carried out in the traditional way these days. Tattoo artists use ink and insert it around the eye’s surface, after which the ink expands irrepressibly. Again, as the procedure is rarely carried out, the lasting consequences for the same are unfamiliar.
Talking about the inks used for making the tattoo, there are no inks approved for eyeball tattoos by the government. Surprisingly, the inks used in making the tattoo are similar to car dye and printing dye. And this makes it additionally dangerous for the eyes.
What is the process of the eyeball tattoo?
Similar to other body tattoos, the eyeball tattoo is also done where a needle containing the dye is inserted beneath the conjunctiva that forms the sclera, or the white area of the eye. The process might appear to be simple; however, it is among the complex processes of getting a tattoo crafted. The area in which the ink is inserted is very thin and small, which can be counted in millimeters.
Again, the individual has to put blind faith in the tattoo artist as there are no certified artists available, which adds to the risks of getting an eyeball tattoo. When the individual decides the details of the eyeball tattoo, the artist would simply use a needle and inject the ink into the eye. If the entire process goes correctly, the needle will apply the dye or ink directly to the sclera. If the needle is placed correctly, the ink will start spreading and covering the entire white area automatically.
Again, it should be noted that the entire process should be carried out only once for each eye. When multiple needles are injected in different areas, the risk of the needle getting injected in the wrong area increases, leading to serious results.
Eye Tattoo Side Effects – What are the risks of eyeball tattoos?
Counted among the extreme tattoos, eyeball tattoos are surely dangerous as they are performed in a very delicate and sensitive area of the body, the eyes. Hence, the possible risks of eyeball tattoos range from serious eye infections to partial or complete vision loss.
Let’s learn about the possible risks related to eyeball tattoos:
1. Eye Tattoo Infection
Chances are that if the tattoo artists use a contaminated needle by mistake, the individual might suffer from blood-borne health issues like hepatitis. Sometimes even the ink used by the artists can lead to mild to serious infections. Such infections might end up in severe vision problems, including blindness, if not treated on time.
2. Blindness
When the procedure is carried out, the ink needs to be injected sensibly beneath the conjunctiva. But as this area is very thin, the chances of the needle entering the eye are very high. If the needle gets inside the eye, it results in severe pain and other vision issues while the procedure is carried out or after it. Sadly, this can also result in blindness.
3. Eye loss
There are several problems if the entire process of getting an eyeball tattoo isn’t carried out properly. Sometimes, if the patient suffers from unpredictable results or extreme pain during or after the procedure, the doctors might also suggest removing the entire affected area or eye.
4. Inflammation
Sympathetic ophthalmia is a triggering reaction that might result if the human body doesn’t respond to eyeball tattoos as desired. This is an autoimmune reaction that leads to inflammation in the eyes. This may also lead to partial or complete vision loss.
Apart from all these major eyeball tattoo complications, other issues include sensitivity to light (photophobia), allergic reactions to ink, retinal detachment, and bleeding where needles were injected. Again, a colored sclera might also hide other symptoms related to other health issues, which delays the diagnosis and results in other severe conditions.
Conclusion
No doubt, being trendy isn’t something bad, but risking your vision for it is surely dangerous. Hence, rather than opting for eyeball tattoos, look for other alternatives to them, like colored contacts, as it would reduce the chances of vision problems to a great extent. But if you are still thinking of risking your eyes, make sure you are aware of the eye tattoo side effects and consult a doctor to get the right direction.
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