Iran (IMNA) - Today, cyberspace shapes and even decides how we think, act, and look. Social media are modern environments in which people are able to shape their identities based on their imaginations as they seek to create a favorable image of themselves in the minds of others, and this effort comes true only on digital platforms.
Social media, namely Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok are the popular networks that provide immediate feedback, playing an important role in shaping individuals’ identity and behavior. Scrolling past endless filtered faces, it gets tough to tell what’s real and what’s just digital magic as online social platforms bombard us with edited photos. That pressure doesn’t stay online but follows people into real life, pushing some to chase flawless looks no filter can actually give. For some, that drive goes further, and they start looking for more drastic ways to change how they look.
In Iran, many young people enjoy taking selfies with digital filters which change their eye color in a split second. However, some extremists are going as far as getting artificial iris implants just to try a new face in the mirror. Recently, beauty tech and the constant churn of social media has put invasive procedures, such as keratopigmentation — changing their eye color permanently — right in the spotlight.
Every day, young Iranians see a nonstop stream of Western beauty standards where blue eyes are considered the ideal look. It’s not surprising that more and more people are picking up colored contacts or even considering surgery to change their eye color. Social networks don’t just spread the beauty industry trends, but their algorithms sink users into glow-up content, making it almost impossible to ignore. All that endless repetition speeds up the pressure on people's minds to hate their natural appearance. Meanwhile, some sponsored celebrities and influencers keep the trend alive online by posting videos showing off their new eye colors. The point here is that some may not realize that all such content is paid and sponsored, not a personal recommendation.
With the keratopigmentation fever hitting its peak, Iranian ophthalmologists have stepped in, raising eyebrows and warning people about the risks of permanent eye color surgery—things like losing vision or, in the worst cases, going blind.
Iranian Ophthalmologists Warns of Serious Risks as Eye Color Change Surgeries Gain Popularity
Regarding the risks and lasting complications tied to changing eye color, Dr. Mohammad Malekahmadi, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, explained that with keratopigmentation, the ophthalmologist injects a special dye right into the cornea—a completely transparent front part of the eyeball. Getting the cornea dyed may interfere with optimal examinations and cause problems in identifying eye conditions. Injecting pigments can cause corneal infections, and in some cases, the color may spread or leak into other parts of the eye, such as the sclera (the white of the eye), leading to unwanted discoloration.
Manipulation of a functionally normal eye for cosmetic purposes is not medically justified; however, some clinics still perform this procedure both in Iran and abroad. Meanwhile, social media only add fuel to the fire, pushing these cosmetic surgeries harder than ever. The Iranian Society of Ophthalmology and the Medical Council have both called out these clinics, sending out warnings again and again.
This cosmetic procedure is not even approved by international centers, including the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) or the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Malekahmadi added that, in certain cases, eye color-changing surgery may be medically justified. Take someone with corneal opacity, keratopigmentation can be used to restore a natural-looking appearance.
The faculty member at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences explained, “Keratopigmentation is being marketed as a permanent method. However, the fact remains that the pigment injected will not always last. After a few years, the color can fade or shift, which can even be addressed with touch-ups or follow-up procedures. Instead of corneal modification, ophthalmologists use a laser to target the melanin pigments within the iris to reduce its concentration, thereby revealing a lighter eye color. The third method involves the surgical placement of a colored artificial iris over the native ocular structure.
Malekahmadi emphasized that cosmetic procedures to change eye color are associated with a substantial risk of serious ocular adverse events including the development of ocular hypertension, corneal ulcer, cataract, various forms of intraocular inflammation and even vision loss.
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