There are only so many shades of color your eyes can be, but your eye color makes you unique! So what happens if you have an eye injury or condition where the iris, the colored part of your eye, is damaged or missing? </P> <H1>In This Article...</H1> <OL> <LI><A href="#what-is-the-iris">What is the iris?</A></LI> <LI><A href="#what-conditions-can-affect-the-iris">What conditions can affect the iris?</A></LI> <LI><A href="#what-is-artificial-iris-surgery">What is artificial iris surgery?</A></LI> <LI><A href="#choose-artificial-iris-color">Can you choose your eye color for artificial iris surgery?</A></LI> <LI><A href="#how-long-does-an-artificial-iris-last">How long does an artificial iris last?</A></LI> </OL> <H2><STRONG>What is the iris? </STRONG></H2> <P>The iris is the colored ring of tissue in the front of the eye that controls the pupil, the small round window that allows light to enter the eye. By dilating and contracting the pupil, the iris regulates how much light is let into the eye. This light regulation is vital for clear vision. </P> <P>The color in the iris is due to the pigment melanin, and the amount of melanin determines the specific color, shade, and thickness of the iris tissue. Brown eyes, for example, have the most melanin while blue or grey eyes have the least. </P> <H2><STRONG>What conditions can affect the iris? </STRONG></H2> <P>Like other parts of the eye, the iris can be affected by diseases and conditions like: </P> <UL><LI>Iritis (Inflammation) </LI><LI>Eye trauma </LI><LI><A href="https://www.ceenta.com/conditions-and-treatments/uveitis">Uveitis</A> </LI><LI>Neurologic conditions </LI><LI>Cysts </LI><LI>Surgical complications </LI><LI><A href="https://www.ceenta.com/conditions-and-treatments/glaucoma">Glaucoma</A> </LI><LI>Horner syndrome </LI></UL> <P>If the iris is damaged from these or other conditions, it could disrupt how your eye manages light. As a result, light sensitivity and vision loss could follow along with eye color change. </P> <H2><STRONG>What is artificial iris surgery? </STRONG></H2> <P>Should the iris tissue become damaged and irreparable causing functional vision loss due to glare, light sensitivity, and/or poor vision that doesn’t resolve over time, an artificial iris implant can be a good option in the right situation. <A href="https://www.ceenta.com/providers/lee-wiley">Dr. Lee Wiley</A>, a CEENTA eye surgeon who practices out of our <A href="https://www.ceenta.com/locations/pineville">Pineville</A> and <A href="https://www.ceenta.com/locations/steele-creek">Steele Creek</A> offices, provides an additional overview of this unique procedure. “The artificial iris has such incredible anatomical detail. It is an artistic and medical masterpiece. It has been very rewarding to offer this life changing procedure to the Charlotte community because very few ophthalmologists in the country are doing iris cases due to their nuance and complexity.” </P> <P>The preoperative assessment includes a complete eye exam and taking detailed photos of both eyes. The photos are approved by the patient and sent to the HumanOptics AG CustomFlexTM artificial iris manufacturer in Erlangen, Germany, where a customized, color matched silicone prosthesis is created just for you. </P> <P>The microscopic details of the FDA approved implant are truly astonishing and look incredibly realistic. The prosthesis is inserted through a small incision in the side of the cornea (the clear window of the eye) and placed behind the residual natural iris tissue to block light from entering the defects and to create a nice cosmetic outcome. </P> <P>Artificial iris surgery is an outpatient procedure and can be performed in approximately thirty minutes per eye. It can also be combined with <A href="https://www.ceenta.com/conditions-and-treatments/cataracts">cataract surgery</A> in many cases. </P> <H2><STRONG>Can you choose your eye color for artificial iris surgery? </STRONG></H2> <P>This procedure is intended to be for functional vision purposes only and the beautiful cosmetic result is a secondary goal of this procedure. It is never used for cosmetically changing the color of an otherwise healthy eye. As Dr. Wiley explains, “I do not recommend any procedures for cosmetically changing the color of your eyes. There have been viral videos on TikTok and Instagram about such procedures, but there are currently no FDA approved procedures or any considered safe by the medical community. The CUSTOMFLEX ARTIFICIALIRIS is the only FDA approved iris device.” </P> <P>The color of the iris implant will be matched to the other eye and/or remaining iris tissue in the affected eye. Patients do not have the option of choosing the color of their artificial iris, but patients do approve the photos taken to ensure proper color matching. This is also dependent on the color availability from the manufacturer and will always be a very close, but sometimes not perfect match. However, the technology is very impressive and near perfect in almost all cases. </P> <H2><STRONG>How long does an artificial iris last? </STRONG></H2> <P>An artificial iris is expected to last indefinitely after implantation with positive results for vision. With that said, it is important to continue routine checkups for any unrelated ocular conditions that may appear and consult with your eye doctor regularly.</P> <P>Your iris is more than just a cosmetic feature; it is an important part of the eye that allows you to see clearly in light and dark environments. Damaging your iris from disease or injury does not mean having to look without light, as CEENTA offers artificial iris implants placed by our skilled anterior segment surgeon, Lee Wiley, MD. To schedule your consultation, use our <A href="https://www.ceenta.com/schedule-an-appointment">online scheduling tool</A> or <A href="https://myceentachart.com/mychartprd/Authentication/Login">myCEENTAchart</A>. </P> <P><EM><EM>This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your physician.
