Aesthetic And Therapeutic Eye Colour Change With Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Keratopigmentation: A Pilot Study
Published 2025 - 43rd Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PO715 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/0xe0-a245
Authors: Punya Muralidhar* 1 , Radhika Tandon 1 , M. Vanathi 1 , Bhavna Chawla 1 , Noopur Gupta 1 , Neiwete Lomi 1 , Sheffali Gulati 2 , Sanjeeda Khan 2
1Department of Ophthalmology,Dr. Rajendra Prasad Institute for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS,New Delhi,India, 2Department of Pediatrics,Centre of Excellence & Advanced Research for Childhood Neuro-Developmental Disorders and Child Neurology Division, AIIMS,New Delhi,India
Purpose
Therapeutic corneal tattooing has been used for centuries to improve cosmesis of white cornea and to reduce photophobia with large iris coloboma. More recently the introduction of the femtosecond laser in this surgical procedure has led to an increasing demand for aesthetic corneal tattooing, devoted to change the colour of healthy eyes. There is much controversy regarding the safety of this technique, and we found it useful to present here the 4-year results of our long-term study.
Setting
Setting:
New Vision Clinic, Nice, France
Methods
A group of 80 eyes of 40 patients 24 to 53 years old were consecutively operated on for aesthetic eye colour change from 1.1.21 to 1.6.21. The Zeiss Visumax 500 femtosecond laser was used to create 2,55 mm wide corneal tunnels at 180 mm depth inner diameter of 5 mm and outer diameter of 9,6 mm, centred on the pupil. Then, manually enlarged until 0,5 mm from the corneal limbus. The keratopigmentation was obtained by introducing in these tunnels liquid pigments of different colours (Biotic Phocea, France). Visual acuity, refraction, intraocular pressure (IOP), and corneal endothelial cell density before and every 3 months after surgery were compared. Patient satisfaction was assessed using the GAIS (Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale).
Results
Increased light sensitivity and blurred vision were the most frequent transient side effects observed. No eye showed signs of keratitis or infection. During the 4 years of follow-up uncorrected and corrected visual acuity did not change. Refraction showed 0.25 D hyperopic shift in most patients. Intraocular pressure did not change, while endothelial cell count showed a 1.6% decrease after 4 years. The GAIS index showed a satisfaction level of 2.9 over 3.0.
Conclusions
Femtosecond laser-assisted keratopigmentation proved to be an effective and safe procedure in this study up to the 4 postoperative years. It is a satisfactory procedure to change the colour of the eyes for aesthetic requirements.