Woman 'goes BLIND for three weeks after getting excruciating blue tattoos on her eyeballs'

You may have recently read an article published on the Mail online (3 November 2019) about a woman temporarily losing her vision following an eye tattoo procedure. Australian ‘body modifier’, Amber Luke, has spent $26,000 transforming her looks, risking going permanently blind after getting blue ink tattooed on her eyes. She describes the 40-minute procedure as excruciating. Here’s what our Clinical Adviser, Dr Susan Blakeney FCOptom, had to say:
 
“I would strongly advise against this concerning procedure which has sadly resulted in temporary blindness for Amber Luke. Any invasive procedure on your eyes should be carried out by a qualified healthcare professional such as an ophthalmologist or an optometrist.  It’s important to remember that just because something appears safe on the skin this does not necessarily mean it is safe for the eye!
 
“There are several questions I would ask about this procedure: 

• Are the dyes used proven to be non-toxic to the eye?
• Is the procedure sterile?
• Has the procedure been clinically proven to be safe in the short and long term?
• What are the risks of complications if it goes wrong?

Your vision is so important, please do not put it at risk with this type of unsafe procedure.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. The College is the professional body for optometry. We qualify the profession and deliver the guidance and training to ensure optometrists provide the best possible care. We promote excellence through the College’s affixes, by building the evidence base for optometry, and raising awareness of the profession with the public, commissioners, and health care professionals.