by Risa Dixon
Clutch Magazine
A doctor in California is claiming that he developed a new laser technology that can permanently change eye color from brown to blue, according to the Washington Post. Dr. Gregg Homer of Stroma Medical says a 20-second procedure that removes melanin that will lighten eye color without affecting a patient’s eyesight. Is a new form of technology like this necessary?
A question of vanity comes into play. It is no different than any other cosmetic surgery used to enhance, decrease or tighten various parts of our bodies. It is widely known that lighter eyes is a trait more common in White men and women. African Americans give each other enough flack about trying to change our physical features to look more European (hair, nose, skin lightening creams), but is this a bit too far?
Homer tells KTLA:
“All brown-eyed people have blue pigment in their irises too — and a quick session under a specially-tuned laser can destroy the melanin in the eye, with the change occurring gradually over two weeks. The procedure can not change blue eyes to brown.”
This raises the next question about if this is really considered enhancement surgery since we already have the pigmentation in our eyes? This procedure reminds me of an episode of “The Doctors” (yes, i love that show) that focused on procedures used to diminish unique ethnic characteristics. One segment spoke about a new fad amongst Asians who were having surgery to open up their slanted eyes. The women who had the surgery said they didn’t see this feature as something beautiful, but rather a defect that needed to be corrected.
We are living in a society where changing characteristics about yourself that are distinct to your ethnicity is widely supported. Being content with the way you were born is quickly becoming a rarity.
The majority of the world’s population are born with brown eyes rather than blue. Now there is an alternative to simply getting color contacts if your desire for a lighter eye pigmentation is that severe.
What do you think about this new procedure? Are you interested in having it done?
