In November 2013, the American Academy of Ophthalmology issued a warning cautioning consumers in regard to the dangers of a new trend arriving in the U.S. called “eyeball jewelry”. A procedure which implants a cosmetic piece of jewelry within the thin membrane which covers the white part of the eye, eyeball jewelry is not approved by the FDA and may not be safe.
First developed in the Netherlands in 2002 by the Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery and marketed under the name JewelEye, it is legal only in the Netherlands and under specific conditions. In the U.S., the American Academy of Ophthalmology urges consumers to avoid placing anything in the eye which is not proven to be medically safe or approved by the FDA including eyeball jewelry.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology lists the risks specific to undergoing this procedure as:
- Blindness from severe ocular infection or bleeding
- Sub-conjunctival hemorrhage (bleeding under the conjunctiva or the membrane covering the white part of the eye
- Perforation or puncture of the eye
- Conjunctivitis or pink eye, an inflammation of the eye due to an infection or an allergy
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the largest national membership association of eye MD’s including ophthalmologists, medical and osteopathic doctors who provide eye care including surgical, medical and optical care. The mission of the Academy is to advance learning of eye care specialists and obtain the best possible care for the public.
If you have more questions regarding eyeball jewelry or other procedures you are unfamiliar with, contact a qualified ophthalmologist to assist you. The doctors of Alpine Eye Care are American Academy of Ophthalmology members and can help.
Ophthalmologist Northern Michigan
If you are in need of an ophthalmologist or an optometrist, Alpine Eye Care is accepting new patients. Offering three locations in Northern Michigan, Alpine Eye Care provides a variety of services for your eye care needs including vision correction, senior eye care, eye exams as well as treatment and procedures for a number of eye conditions and cosmetic eye treatments. To contact us, call us at 1.877.SEE.2020 or online here for more information.