Iris

Iris determines each person's eye color. It is the eye's pigmented part with a hereditary nature. Its color is usually brown, black, blue, gray or green, which generally depends on two types of pigments: melanin and lipofuscin (for some types of green). In the absence of any pigment which is called albinism, eye color can change into the color of its flowing blood.

Iris color is very different in different parts of the world and it is comprised of a combination of two or more different colors in some people. Brown, black and chestnut are the most common colors of eye or iris with about three quarters of the world's population.

Iris has an important role in controlling the amount of light entering the eye and protects the eye against harmful sun rays. Due to diseases or trauma to the eye, some people have no iris or defective iris.

Artificial Iris

An artificial iris is a thin, flexible, non-toxic prosthesis which is compatible with body tissue. Artificial iris is made of materials that are used in manufacturing intraocular lenses. For years, these lenses have been placed in the patients’ eyes (e.g., after cataract surgery); therefore, they are made of safe and biocompatible materials.

The BRIGHTOCULAR artificial iris implant is a United States invented device made of ophthalmic grade silicone which is used in intraocular lenses for decades throughout the world. BrightOcular is manufactured under Class-100 strictly controlled environment. The facility has ISO 13485 certification, which is one of the highest medical device manufacturing standards in the world.

The BrightOcular procedure is ambulatory, short, safe, and painless. It is performed under topical anesthesia and takes about 15 minutes for each eye. Since the implant is flexible it can be folded and inserted into the eye through a peripheral corneal surgical incision about 2.8 mm long. No corneal sutures are needed for this length of the incision. Anterior chamber intraocular lens implantation and phakic IOL implantation are performed worldwide for years and are also FDA approved techniques (ICL, Cataract Extraction).

History of Artificial Iris Implant Surgery

Artificial iris implant surgery was first performed by United States Pioneer Dr. Rosenthal and Dr. Rush from Germany in 1996. Since then, it has been operated on patients in Europe, Canada, Asia and the USA.

Applications of Artificial Iris Implant

This method was first invented for its medical applications. The following diseases are the main indications for this surgery. People who cannot have good vision due to the following reasons and the sun and environmental light hurt them use artificial iris implant surgery to have appropriate vision. During the recent years, cosmetic aspects have been added to these applications.

Medical Applications of Artificial Iris Implant

In people with the following problems, artificial iris implant is performed. Many of these problems such as light sensitivity and reduced vision are removed by surgery.

Correcting eye color in people who have eyes with two different colors (Heterochromia)

Treating patients with albinism (ocular albinism)

Treating patients who have no iris (anirida)

Treating patients who have rupture of iris following a trauma

Severe iris atrophy

Congenital absence of a portion of iris (coloboma)

Cystic and multi-layer iris (iridoschisis)

Cosmetic Application of Artificial Iris Implant (Permanent Change of eye Color)

Permanent change of eye color is another application of artificial iris which is done for beauty. Artificial iris is available in various colors and the surgeon puts the patient's desired color into her or his eyes. This color change is permanent; however, if there is a need for the removal of artificial iris for any reasons, it can be easily done.

The purpose of this surgery is not to correct refractive errors and, if the patient uses glasses or contact lenses to correct his/her vision before the eye color change surgery, s/he will still need them after the surgery. In fact, correction of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism before or after placing an artificial iris can be done by laser and permanent change of eye color does not disrupt such actions.

Most artificial iris implant surgeries in the past have only been done for medical purposes and they are necessary and recommended for the patients to treat the above-mentioned diseases. This method is not recommended for merely cosmetic purposes. Nevertheless, in recent years many people intend and have successfully permanently change their iris color using brightocular artificial iris for solely cosmetic reasons.

How did you learn about this procedure?

I learnt about this through the Internet, I found out about Bright Ocular

Do you feel enthusiastic about changing the color of your eyes?

Yes, very much. It’s something I have desiring for a long time and also for my job and this way I don’t have to wear contact lenses anymore. So yes, I’m very enthusiastic.

What don’t you like about the natural color of your eyes?

I like the color of my eyes but I would really like to have them in a different color for my job and for myself.

What does your family think about this procedure?

My family think there is some risk as with any procedure but they agree with this procedure.

Do you work?

Yes.

What do you do?

I’m an esthetician

What did make you choose this procedure?

I decided about this because of my job, for myself.

How did you feel during the surgery?

During the surgery I didn’t feel much

Did you feel any pain?

Not at all

Are you going to be shopping for new clothes to complete your new look?

No, I don’t think so

What did make you choose this color out of all the other colors?

I picked this color because I thought it was the most natural one. The light blue… I thought it was most natural out of all of them.

What do you think your friends and other people will say when this see this new color?

They will definitely be excited.

Would you advice this procedure to others?

If they would actually go ahead with surgery to make themselves happy …definitely yes.

Can you describe your experience with Bright Ocular?

A nice experience, and the doctor was a good surgeon, very clear about it, very sincere and honest. A good experience.

Would you like to change your make up to complete your new look?

No, I don’t think so. I don’t use too much make up so I doubt it that I will actually change something.

Adona Marino ( 6/13/2012 )
From Milan Italy

I have always wanted to change my eye color since I started wearing color contacts at a young age. I am a free lance model in California and since I have gotten the procedure I have booked many more jobs and I just feel more confident taking photos knowing they wont look unnatural as they did when I wore color contacts. I guess I always wanted green eyes since my mother and brother both have. I was the unfortunate one but not anymore :)

I was nervous initially when I was about to have the procedure but I didn't feel anything during the procedure which only took about 10 minutes per eye. I was able to go back to my hotel the same day with my eyes wide open. Waking up in the morning and looking at myself in the mirror knowing these are really my eyes is a feeling I cannot explain with words.

Brian ( 1/19/2012 )
Los Angeles

I am not a stranger to cosmetic procedures but this has been the most fulfilling procedure I ever had and probably the last I will ever need.

I have been wearing color contacts since my early teens which are very popular in Asia. Now people can look into my light baby blues that are really mine ! I really feel I now finally found my own unique special identity that sets me apart from the world.

Chizu ( 2/10/2012 )
Japan

Its been 2 years since I had my surgery and I almost already forgot how it feels to have brown eyes but I don't mind not remembering lol. I do however remember my friends and family thinking I was crazy for having the procedure but with any new procedure people will have their reservations. When I had my required eye exams done to determine if I can have surgery my local eye doctor did perform the exams I needed but he warned me not to move forward as he did not want to be responsible if something happen to me which is understandable since he could not perform the procedure yet or be allowed to give the ok for someone to have it done. When lasik first came out people had the same concerns claiming that they will go blind or when plastic surgery started being done for cosmetic reasons not just reconstructive medical purposes people thought it was risky but the world continues to evolve and eventually it becomes mainstream medical practice. If you saw how my surgery is done the technique and the implant injector they used on me was the same implant injector they used on my grandmothers cataract procedure. My point is all the equipment is exactly the same so they are not completely reinventing the wheel which makes me feel more comfortable knowing this. So the implant might be innovating but the surgery technique and implantation is nothing new. Another fun fact is cataract surgery techniques have been around 1000 years.
 

Lauren from the Big Apple ( 2/15/2012 )
New York

I always wanted to have green eyes, I don't know why but I just do. I started wearing colored contacts when I was in college but I'm not satisfied because they don't look natural.
I've known Brightocular for quite a while now but I wasn't able to get the procedure done last year because of the incident that happened to the host country where I was stationed as I am in U.S. Marine now. This year I found time and grabbed the opportunity right away. I actually met another patient from the U.K.and we got the procedure done at the same day.
I was not nervous at all when I was about to get the procedure done. When the procedure began, all I remember was the doctor putting some eye drops in my eyes to sedate my eyes. I didn't feel any pain at all. After a couple of hours I was able to stand up and walk to the bathroom, I also checked my eyes and I looked like I didn't even get the procedure done, meaning there was no evidence that a surgery took place, other than the fact that I couldn't take my eyes off my new beautiful eyes haha. When the doctor told us that we're good to go, I was able to walk out of the hospital without any assistance and went back to the hotel. The next day, I didn't really feel any pain and I was actually able to do some sightseeing. On the 5th day after the procedure, I went to the hospital for a checkup. The doctor was amazed and told me I recovered pretty fast. Now my 2 week vacation is almost over and I'm about to go back to work with green eyes that look pretty natural and I'm so satisfied.

Luis ( 2/29/2012 )
New Jersey

I've been wearing color contacts for the past 25 years (since 1987), and I've worn just about every color. But what I noticed was, they never really looked natural. Then I heard of this procedure that could give me the gray eyes I always wanted. I was kind of nervous at first, so I investigated further. I saw pictures on Brightocular and knew that was the look I was after. So, I set a date to have it done. WOW! I'm so glad I did! The color is great! The surgery was quick with no pain or discomfort. My doctor gave me excellent follow up care. He even came in on his day off to check the progress of my eyes. I'm very pleased with the results. If you're looking for a natural look....this is it. Trust me, you'll be glad you did it. Cheers,

 

Dave ( 2/29/2012 )
from U.K.

I all ways wanted to have green eyes one of my friends used to wear colour eye contact lens so I start wearing colour eye contact lens since I was 17 years old, I was only allowed to keep the lens on for 7 to 8 hours a day so was feeling sick of it. About 2 Years ago I searched online if there is a way to keep my eyes green without taking the lens of every 8 hours, finely my dream came true I found Brightocular.com. I contact the website and a very nice person named Spencer whom told me all about the surgery, I told my brother about the website and the costs of the surgery he was not happy because he thought it might be a scam so he tried his best to keep me out from doing but I trusted Spencer and the procedure. In December 2011 Spencer offered me to go and have my surgery done in one of the locations, I was so scared and nervous because I’m going to a country that I never been to and I was more worried about the doctor who knows what kind of doctor I am facing. But when I met the doctor I thought that my father is doing my surgery not a random doctor he treated me like his own daughter, I loved him so much. He made me so happy since I met him and he took a very good care of me, I don’t mind going again and have another surgery as long as I have it with the same doctor. Now my eyes are great and I love the colour I chose

 

Divya ( 3/9/2012 )
Toronto Canada