Surgically Implanted Eye Jewelry Is A New Trend For Those Willing To Splash Some Serious Cash
Glittering bracelets and necklaces apparently aren’t glam enough for everyone. Because in a new procedure ripped straight from “Black Mirror,” one New York doctor is offering patients surgically implanted ocular jewelry.
Allegedly, the procedure takes five minutes to complete and is pain-free. I’m an advocate for modern medicine. But no gem in the world could ever make the idea of knifing my eyeball seem like a good idea.
And just because you have enough for exclusive cosmetic procedures, it doesn’t mean you should splash serious cash for every new trend.
I’m looking at you, vampire facials.
The Start
Developed in the early 2000s, extraocular implants pioneered by the surgeons at the Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery made wearable eyeball jewelry available to the public. Marketed as “JewelEye,” patients can choose to have any shape that they desire manufacture and implanted into their eye.
The Procedure
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This video shows the step-by-step process of the controversial procedure. After an injection of lidocane is applied to numb the area, the eye is propped open with a speculum.
Next, surgeons make an incision between the sclera and the conjunctiva to create a pocket for the gem. Lastly, the jewelry is placed inside the pocket and is ready to wear immediately.
It’s Totally Safe (They Swear)
According to surgeons at the Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgary, the procedure is completely safe.
“So far we have not seen any side effects or complications and we don’t expect any in the future,” said NIIOC director Gerrit Melles. “In my view it is a little more subtle than body piercing. It is a bit of a fun thing.”
Meet Dr. Emil Chynn
Dr. Emil Chynn is the first surgeon in New York to perform the “eye jewelry” procedure that is now popular in both Europe and Los Angeles.
“To me, this is just another way to advance the science of opthalmology,” said Chynn, whose dedication brought him directly to Amsterdam to learn the procedure firsthand.