From the Guidelines
No, iris color cannot be altered without surgery, as there are no clinically proven, non-surgical methods to permanently change eye color [ 1 ].
Key Points
- The current evidence does not support the use of any non-surgical methods to permanently alter iris color [ 1 ].
- Some medications, such as prostaglandin analogs, may cause temporary changes in eye color, but this effect is highly variable and not consistently reproducible [ 1 ].
- The use of prostaglandin analogs, such as bimatoprost or latanoprost, typically used to treat glaucoma, may result in a slight darkening or perceived lightening of the iris, but this is not a reliable method for changing eye color [ 1 ].
- Any attempts to alter iris color without surgery should be approached with caution, as the current evidence is limited and the effects are not well understood [ 1 ].
From the FDA Drug Label
The pigmentation change is due to increased melanin content in the melanocytes rather than to an increase in the number of melanocytes. After discontinuation of bimatoprost, pigmentation of the iris is likely to be permanent, while pigmentation of the periorbital tissue and eyelash changes have been reported to be reversible in some patients Iris color change may not be noticeable for several months to years. Typically, the brown pigmentation around the pupil spreads concentrically towards the periphery of the iris and the entire iris or parts of the iris become more brownish
Iris color alteration without surgery is possible with bimatoprost ophthalmic solution 0.03%. The medication can cause increased pigmentation of the iris, leading to a change in iris color. However, this change is likely to be permanent after discontinuation of the medication. 2
From the Research
Non-Surgical Alteration of Iris Color
There are no research papers provided that directly address the alteration of iris color without surgery. The studies available focus on non-surgical treatments for various conditions such as blepharoplasty 3, osteoarthritis of the big toe joint 4, chronic postoperative inguinal pain 5, lipedema 6, and knee osteoarthritis 7.
Related Non-Surgical Treatments
- Non-surgical blepharoplasty using plasma radiofrequency ablation technology has been shown to be effective in treating aesthetically unpleasant dermatochalasis, excess tissue, and fine wrinkles of the eyelids 3.
- Non-surgical interventions for treating osteoarthritis of the big toe joint, such as arch-contouring foot orthoses, shoe-stiffening inserts, and intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid, have been found to have little or no difference in pain, function, or quality of life compared to placebo or sham treatments 4.
- Non-surgical treatment of lipedema is feasible in selected cases and can meet the criteria for achieving selected clinical objectives, such as improving signs and symptoms of lipedema 6.
- Nonsurgical therapies for knee osteoarthritis, including intra-articular hyaluronic acid, intra-articular corticosteroids, and acetaminophen, have been found to have varying effect sizes, with some having relatively larger effects than others 7.
Limitations
The available studies do not provide evidence on the alteration of iris color without surgery, and therefore, no conclusions can be drawn on this topic. Further research is needed to investigate non-surgical methods for altering iris color.