Colour stability and resorption
The operation for changing your eye color with the Neoris keratopigmentation technique is permanent.
However, a first reversibility operation was successfully performed in May 2022 on a patient’s eye. Therefore, if you wish to return to your natural color, it will be possible.
Why do the eyes lose colour over time?
This is a natural phenomenon, which may be heightened by extensive exposure to sunlight. The pigment is then absorbed by the cornea, and the colour tones down as a result.
However, it does not lead to any particular eyesight problems, pain or irritation. And some patients show no signs of resorption a year after the operation.
In any event, this is NOT a cause for concern! The result is very good, and even if the colour is a bit less intense, it will not disappear. What is more, it is highly likely that the colour will still be there fifteen to twenty years after the procedure, even without being touched up. However, since eye color change surgery with Neoris keratopigmentation has only been performed since 2013, we can’t say for sure.
Are some colours more liable to resorption than others?
Some of the older colors still have a fair amount of resorption, which we have seen in some patients. Don’t worry, this process is completely normal, safe and can be easily corrected. Thanks to more than two years of investment in research to improve the colorants as much as possible, Neoris now offers new pigment formulations since October 2022. These Eurofins-certified pigments are safe for your eyes and more stable and you can order them directly on our website. Here is the range of dyes we offer: Riviera Blue, Emerald Green, Honey Gold and Snow White.
Are there any ways to limit such resorption?
There is indeed a solution for brightening the colour in order to make it more intense. This is simply a touch-up. That is done by injecting a small quantity of pigment once again in order to heighten the colour density. However, this intervention cannot be repeated indefinitely.
When does the colour need retouching?
It is not possible to give a frequency of retouching, since the speed of resorption varies between patients and pigments. For some, this may occur after a few weeks or months, while for others, resorption is not seen until several years after the procedure. Each person is different.
Many patients find that resorption makes their colour look more natural over time. As the color naturally soaks into the cornea, the color tends to fade, becoming more evenly embedded in the eye.
In short, even if the keratopigmentation technique allows a definitive change of eye color, an evolution is underway since reversibility seems to be possible. A first operation was successfully performed in May 2022 on one of our patients! You will soon be able to return to your original color.
Resorption makes the colour look more natural over time
— Dr Ferrari
