It reads like a sci-fi novel: You pay thousands to a doctor, he quickly lasers your eyeballs, and you walk out the door with soon-to-be blue eyes—permanently. Mere minutes ago, they were forever brown.Frightening? Oh, yes. But out of the realm of possibility? Not quite.QUIZ: Are You Satisfied with Your Face?A Laguna Beach-based doctor, Dr. Gregg Homer of Stroma Medical, says he can turn brown eyes blue with new laser technology called Lumineyes. The experimental procedure takes a mere 20 seconds, just long enough to alter the tissue of your iris (brown eyes hide blue pigment underneath), and you’re done. Brand new baby blues!No vision loss. No follow-ups. Just a price tag of $5,000, and a few weeks until your eyes slowly morph into their new shade of blue—ample time to explain to your mother that you didn’t like the eye color she gave you. There’s a conversation you never imagined having.MORE: All About Eyes If it sounds too good to be true, you might be right. The jury is still out on this one—big time—as it’s still in testing after a decade of research. “I would be very cautious and concerned about permanent, serious sequelae [abnormality following injury] like glaucoma and light sensitivity,” says ophthalmologist Christopher T. Coad, M.D., F.A.C.S. “At this point, colored contacts seem to be the better option.”If you’re willing to take the risk, brown-eyed gals overseas, you’ll have first dibs if and when it’s a go, as Homer plans to launch abroad within the next 18 months or so. American blue-eyed-wannabes, you’ll have to wait a few years.No word on whether other colors can be created as well. So for now, colored contacts will have to do. Or better yet… self-acceptance! There’s a lot to be said for loving the eyes you were born with, after all. Beautiful and uniquely yours—just what mama gave you.MORE: See why what makes your eye color beautiful
LATEST
