As Halloween looms, Brits are being warned about a potentially dangerous product that’s gaining popularity on social media. Ali Mearza, a top consultant ophthalmic surgeon at OCL Vision, has raised concerns over ‘unregulated products’, including a type of liquid claimed to change eye colour.
Mearza warns this could have ‘catastrophic repercussions’. “The allure of changing one’s eye colour may seem harmless, but these eye drops can contain harmful ingredients that are not approved for such use,” he said. “Applying these substances to the eye can lead to infections, corneal damage, and in extreme cases, vision loss.”
Mearza has noticed a worrying trend of people using these untested products regularly, not just for Halloween. He is urging the public to be extra cautious when using such products, especially around sensitive areas like the eyes, as the consequences could be permanent.
The expert added: “The long-term effects of using unregulated eye drops remain largely unknown. There has been no research into the active ingredients in the products which supposedly make a difference to eye colour. This is problematic, especially when used daily as suggested.
“There are drops, such as prostaglandin analogues used in glaucoma treatment, which can result in deeper pigmentation of the eye and the surrounding skin. However, this is generally an unwanted side effect and normally causes the eye to appear darker, rather than going lighter, as the viral trend promotes. The eye is an incredibly delicate organ, and what may seem like a simple cosmetic change can have irreversible consequences.”
Mearza also cautions against procedures like iris tattooing and ‘cosmetic iris implants’, which could be detrimental to one’s eyesight. “There are safer temporary options available, such as coloured contact lenses prescribed by a qualified professional,” he underscores. “Our health should never be compromised for the sake of a trend.”