People didn’t have much choice in the past when it came to how they looked as DNA has a firm grip over genetic make-up in a person from their hair color to body build down to their eye color. Soon, though, we might be able to change that with blue eye surgery.
According to statistics, around 17 percent of people born in the world are born with blue eyes, and every single person with these ocean-hues is related to the same ancestor. According to recent research, this began as a genetic mutation that caused blue eyes around 6,000 to 10,000 years ago in a single person. The mutation caused a shift in their gene, presenting the world to a different shade by changing the body’s ability to produce a specific amount of melanin that causes brown eyes.
In this sense, the exact color could be a trick of the mind — or a trick of the light. Seeing as the iris of the eye doesn’t contain any actual color, the color, and hue of blue eyes are solely based on how light enters the iris and then reflects back out.
People now have the option to change their eye color permanently with no vision prescription required. Blue eye surgery is a cosmetic surgery similar to the laser surgery that people often have so they no longer need to wear glasses. The surgery was first introduced by a California-based company called Stroma Medical, that offers the procedure, currently running in clinical trials.
Because there are minimal studies and clinical trials to go off regarding how safe it is, it might not be the best idea to jump to the front of the line. This procedure needs to be tested for at least another year before it can even be approved in the U.S. Also, considering that contact lenses are widely available, it might be a good idea to steer clear of these cosmetic procedures until more information is available and the risks are clearly outlined.