How Do You Tattoo Your Eyes?
What is eyeball tattooing? – Eyeball tattooing is a term describing the permanent colouring of the white of the eye (called the sclera). It is performed by injecting ink with a needle underneath the top layer of the eye onto the sclera, in several locations, from where the ink then slowly spreads to cover all of the sclera.
Contents
Do eyeball tattoos hurt?
Yes, there is such a thing as an eyeball tattoo. Yes, it is as dangerous and painful as you can imagine it to be. Eyeball tattoo is done by injecting coloured ink into the white part of the eyeball. The medical fraternity and the general public is, of course, wary about it since it pertains one of the most sensitive areas of the body.
- Recently, there were reports of a Canadian model turning blind and living with pain in one eye after she tattooed her eyeball with purple ink;
- Nonetheless, there are people who go for it;
- Just Google eyeball tattoos and you’ll see tons of pictures of people tattooing their eyeballs to different hues;
There hadn’t been a ‘daredevil’ in India who’d tried eyeball tattooing, until now. Delhi-based 28-year-old tattoo artist Karan got his eyeballs inked black in September this year. I chatted with Karan about his experience and came back shocked, impressed and concerned.
- What made you get your eyeballs tattooed? My team of tattoo artists and I have been working on a full bodysuit tattoo on me (covering the entire body with tattoos) since the past 6 months;
- We have finished half of my body and I had already started to look like a superhuman character from some sci fi movie;
So I thought why not get my eyeballs tattooed as well. Another reason while it is relatively common abroad, no one from India has ever got eyeball tattoo done. I wanted to be the first Indian to do this. I have spent a number of months researching on this. Getting an eyeball tattoo is no joke.
- I wanted to be absolutely sure that I was in expert hands;
- So I got in touch with Howard Smith at his tattoo studio in New York;
- Howard is the guy who’s invented the technique of eyeball tattooing;
- Here are things your tattoo artist wants you to know Surely you must have had some apprehensions about getting one of the most sensitive areas of your body tattooed? I have been getting inked since I was 13;
I have got my body pierced about 80 to 90 times and about 60 times, I have done the piercings on my own while undergoing piercing training in the US. Presently, I have 32 piercings on my body. I am absolutely not scared of pain. I have immense self control.
- I believe I m bigger than pain and so it doesn t control me;
- I spent about 6 months thinking about how I would look with my eyeballs tattooed, whether I was ready for it and only then did I take the decision to do it;
I got it done from the inventor of eyeball tattoos because I wanted the absolute best. 
What does eyeball tattooing involve? The process is also called scleral tattooing. Sclera is the white part of the eyeball. The ink is injected into the white part of eyeball so that part gets dyed. I have dyed my eyeball black, so now I have all black eyes. There are other colours available as well. Red is not used since it is known to create some problems in the eye.
- The entire procedure requires 2 sittings;
- On day one, the process takes 2-4 hours for both eyeballs;
- Then you need to rest for 2 days;
- On the fourth day, it ll take about 2-4 hours again;
- What does it feel like getting your eyeballs tattooed? When the ink is being injected in your eye, it feels like a burning needle is being inserted into your eyeballs;
You have take care not to move your eyeballs when the needle is inserted, because if you do, the scleral membrane will tear. That is disastrous. Before the procedure, Howard had asked me if I wanted to take a tablet for alleviating pain. I didn t want to. So I refused.
I kept my eyeballs open on my own. I knew what I was going to feel and I have immense self control, so I did not move my eyeballs. I kept focused on one point throughout the procedure. There were times when I felt like squeezing my eyes shut and I had the burning sensation but I didn t flinch.
What s the status of your eyes now? What aftercare did you have to follow? Right now my eyesight is completely normal. For a few days after the eyeball tattoo, I had to wear sunglasses and keep my eyes protected from the sun. The burning sensation lasted for a week and my eyes were swollen for sometime.
Recently, there were reports of a Canadian model becoming blind in one eye because her eyeball tattoo went wrong. What do you think went wrong? According to me, the tattoo artist must have overfilled her scleral membrane with the dye.
Once the ink is injected, it spreads slowly inside the eye. It needs to be done gradually and that s why mine was done over a period of 2-4 days. How long do eyeballs tattoo last for? I know of a person who got it done 10 years ago and he still has it. There have been no studies done in this regard.
What would you like to say to someone who wants to get their eyeballs tattooed? Eyeball tattooing is a life changing decision. You have to be absolutely sure of it. Also, you need immense self control. You should be aware of the pain that will follow.
Image source: Instagram/ @tattoographer Stay Tuned to TheHealthSite for the latest scoop updates -.
Can you go blind from eyeball tattoo?
‘This can lead to a retinal detachment, infection, and permanent damage to the cells inside the eye that allow you to see. ‘ According to her, someone could even lose their sight or their entire eye permanently if the job isn’t done with the utmost care.
What happens if you tattoo your eyeballs?
Risks and Side Effects – Of course, as with any procedure or treatment associated with the eyeballs, there is an exorbitant amount of risks associated with the body mod ink. One example of eye tattoos gone wrong is the case of Canadian model Cat Gallinger, who got a sclera tattoo in 2017 to color the whites of her eyes purple.
After the procedure was finished, however, she realized that one of her eyes was oozing purple liquid. Although she figured the reaction was normal, Gallinger sought medical attention. In an interview with The Sun , the model said that she experienced swelling of the eyes and blurred vision after checking in to a hospital.
Medical staff reasoned that the tattoo process had torn her sclera and told Gallinger that, even after taking medication for several weeks, her eyesight wouldn’t heal and she would go blind without surgery. “This was caused by undiluted ink, over injection, not enough/smaller injections sights,” wrote Gallinger in a viral Facebook post where she discussed her tattoo.
- “I am NOT sharing this with you to cause trouble, I am sharing this to warn you to research who you get your procedures by as well as how the procedure should be properly done;
- ” In another post about a month later, the model reported she suffered from blurry and double vision;
Gallinger’s case may have been an extreme outcome, but her results are a real risk for others who are interested in getting a sclera tattoo. “Ophthalmologists have treated people who have suffered devastating consequences,” says Andrea Tooley, MD, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
“The process of injecting ink into the eyeball is dangerous… because the eye is a very delicate organ. The needle must be injected precisely in the right place, just under the conjunctiva (the clear tissue covering the white part of the eye), to avoid injecting the ink inside the eyeball.
That’s a risky procedure for anyone who is not a trained surgeon. ” The general risks of eye ink include decreased vision, retinal detachment, infection of the eye, inflammation, sensitivity to light, the feeling of something being in your eye at all times, and even blindness or complete loss of an eye.
- Even if you manage to get an eye tattoo without any damage, the coloring makes it harder for doctors to examine the health of your eye in the future;
- From a tattoo artist’s point of view, sclera tattoos are a risky endeavor to perform;
Because this type of tattoo has not been medically or scientifically studied in-depth (or, really, at all), and because the procedure was not created by a doctor, there is no formal training, licensing, or certification process for those who want to offer the tattoo.
Because of the extreme need to choose carefully, it can be difficult to find a trained artist who is not only comfortable injecting ink into the eye, but an expert at it. The dangers and risks associated with scleral tattooing are extreme, but there is still a community of people who are actively seeking out the eyeball ink.
In the 2007 BME article , Larratt noted that there’s no one specific look for sclera tattoos and that the goal of developing the process was “to see how to apply the ink and how it heals. ” He also noted that his personal goal in receiving the ink was “to eventually fully fill in the white of the eye with blue.
” In another BME post from 2012, Larratt called sclera tattoos “the riskiest but most exciting body mod procedure to date” and said that he “noticed in public that people seem unsure what they’re seeing, whether it’s natural, or a trick of the light, or something induced.
” In essence, this is the draw of eyeball tattoos: They’re intriguing both to the person receiving it and to those they meet.
How much does eye tattoo cost?
Tattoo Cost Estimator
| Location | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Eyebrow Tattoo | $400 – $650 |
| Eyeliner & Cosmetic Tattoo | $1,500 – $3,000 |
| Wrist Tattoos | $50 – $150 |
| Lip / Inner Lip Tattoo | $100 – $600 |
.
How long do eye tattoos last?
Most eyeliner tattoos will last between 8 and 18 months, however the pigment will eventually fade, so a ‘touch up’ is recommended after 12 months.
Is eye tattoo Safe?
- Home
- News
A Canadian model partially lost her vision after she had an “eyeball tattoo,” a procedure that experts say is unsafe and can result in people losing their entire eyeball. The model, 24-year-old Catt Gallinger, underwent the tattoo procedure about four weeks ago, according to CBS News. The procedure involves injecting tattoo ink into the white part of the eye (called the sclera) to color the eyeball. But Gallinger experienced serious complications, including blurry vision, eye pain and swelling and the oozing of purple liquid (colored by the tattoo ink) from her eye.
- “I will have to see a specialist and am at risk of being blind if it doesn’t get corrected,” Gallinger posted to Facebook on Sept;
- 20;
- [ 5 Weird Ways Tattoos Affect Your Health ] Eyeball tattooing is a fairly recent practice that has gained popularity over the last decade, according to Newsweek;
During the procedure, a tattoo artist injects ink just under the surface of the conjunctiva, the clear membrane that covers the white part of the eye, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). But there are a lot of things that can go wrong during the procedure.
For instance, the tattoo artist may use too much pigment, inject the pigment too deep into the eye, use a needle that is too big or use the wrong ink, according to the BBC. In Gallinger’s case, the artist (who also happened to be her boyfriend) injected too much ink in one sitting, used a needle that was too big, made an injection that was too deep and did not dilute the ink with saline as is required, according to Time.
Gallinger was put on antibiotics, steroids and medications to help with her eye pain, and she plans to undergo surgery to remove the excess ink from her eye, according to her Facebook posts. Her doctors told her that her vision will not return to normal in the tattooed eye, she said.
- A tattoo on the eyeball can pose serious risks, and the procedure hasn’t been studied by eye doctors or scientists, according to the AAO;
- What’s more, because the procedure is new and not a traditional practice, the people who perform these tattoo procedures may not be properly trained, the AAO said;
Some of the risks of eyeball tattoos include: vision loss or blindness, infection from the ink, sensitivity to light and a potential loss of the eyeball, the AAO said. Indeed, earlier this year, doctors reported the case of a 24-year-old man who needed to have his eyeball surgically removed after a botched eyeball-tattoo procedure.
- In that case, the ink was injected too deep into his eye, and he also developed a bacterial infection from contaminated ink;
- Although doctors tried to save his eye with antibiotics and multiple surgeries, they ultimately had to remove the eye because the patient was in too much pain;
After they removed the eyeball, they found that the retina , the light-sensitive cells at the back of the eye, were stained with tattoo ink Gallinger said she shared her story to warn others about the risks of the procedure. “Just please be cautious who you get your [body modifications] from and do your research.
- I don’t want this to happen to anyone else,” Gallinger posted to Facebook;
- Original article on Live Science;
- Rachael has been with Live Science since 2010;
- She has a master’s degree in journalism from New York University’s Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program;
She also holds a B. in molecular biology and an M. in biology from the University of California, San Diego. Her work has appeared in Scienceline, The Washington Post and Scientific American..
Can you tattoo your teeth?
How Do Tooth Tattoos Work? – Ornamental decorations on teeth were originally used for religious practices but are now increasingly becoming part of fashion, according to the Indian Journal of Dental Advancements. This practice gained popularity as mainstream fashion influencers like hip-hop artists modified their smiles with grills and gems in recent decades.
Tooth tattoos (also known as dental tattoos) refer to cosmetic markings made on your teeth but are not actual tattoos. Traditional tattoos are made by placing pigment (typically ink) under your skin to create a permanent design.
As your teeth do not have skin and are protected by enamel, this method can’t be used. So, what exactly do tooth tattoos actually refer to? While there is no exact definition for this term, it generally refers to two different practices that modify the appearance of your teeth:
- Permanent cosmetic modification of an artificial crown before placement in your mouth.
- Temporary stickers, designs, or jewelry fixed to your teeth.
For this reason, tooth tattooing often refers to what is more commonly called ornamental dentistry or tooth jewelry. Did you know : The enamel protecting your teeth is the hardest material in your body and vital to your mouth’s health. This is one of many reasons it is not advisable to cosmetically modify your teeth without the help and recommendation of a licensed dental professional.
Can you tattoo your eyes black?
–> 
Aleksandra Sadowska got her eyeballs dyed black. A model has been left “completely blind” in one eye, and will lose sight in the other, after getting her eyeballs tattooed black. Aleksandra Sadowska from Wroclaw, Poland, went to a tattoo artist after deciding that she wanted to copy the look of rap artist Popek, who has had his own eyeballs blackened.
Eyeball tattoos, also referred to as scleral tattoos , are an extreme form of body modification where ink is injected into the whites of a person’s eyes to permanently dye it a different colour. The long-term effects of this procedure are unknown.
According to Daily Mail , the 25-year-old model was left complaining of eye pain after the botched procedure, which was performed by a local tattoo artist identified as Piotr A. The tattoo artist, who reportedly told her the pain was normal and could be treated with painkillers, now faces three years in prison for unintentionally severely disabling Aleksandra Sadowska.
Investigation found that he made a serious error while tattooing her eyeballs, using body ink for the procedure, which should not come in contact with eyes. Ms Sadowska has reportedly undergone three procedures to restore her eyesight.
Medics, however, say that there is no hope of her regaining her sight, as the dye has reached her tissues. “Unfortunately, for now doctors do not give me much optimism for improvement,” she said, according to The Mirror. “The damage is too deep and extensive.
What does the eye tattoo symbolize?
The eye of god – The most commonly understood meaning of the all-seeing eye tattoo is that it represents the omnipresent eye of god watching over humankind. Another popular interpretation is that it symbolizes benevolent guidance from a divine source, since the word “providence” means “guidance”.
The light source shown behind the all-seeing eye is traditionally believed to denote ” illumination “, or wisdom. In various spiritual and religious beliefs the all-seeing eye is believed to represent the awakening of the spirit, or the opening of the third eye.
A common rendition of the all-seeing eye design is the crying all-seeing eye tattoo. Although this tattoo shares much of the same symbolism as the original design it is believed to be worn as a sign of gods sorrow for humanity. This design can be used to represent a number of various personal beliefs, particularly surrounding empathy for human suffering, or a state of sadness in regards to the state of humankind.
The traditional depiction of the all-seeing eye has held importance in almost every major world religion, being utilized as a symbol of inner wisdom, spiritual progression and looking within oneself for answers.
In the early days of Christianity the symbol was used to represent the holy trinity via the three points of the triangle. In Buddhist religions the all-seeing eye is viewed as “the eye of the world”, while in Hindu belief systems it is said to be the “third eye” of Shiva.
Can u tattoo your tongue?
– Generally speaking, tongue tattoos pose the same risks as tattoos on any other part of the body, so getting your tongue tattooed might not necessarily be any riskier. They do come with one unique risk due to their placement: potential damage to your taste buds.
Is scleral tattooing safe?
‘ We caution patients against the practice of scleral tattooing due to the very real danger of permanent blindness or loss of eye and advise patients to seek medical attention immediately for any adverse events,’ the report says.
Where does tattoo hurt most?
Do tattoos stop hair from growing?
Tattoo Technique and Your Skin – Our skin is complicated, and creating a permanent tattoo requires a proper procedure — a needle pierces through the skin, and pigment is inserted into the dermal layer. Now, you may be thinking, well, isn’t that the same place in which the hair follicle is located? Let us explain. 
Tattoo artists should shave the area in which they’re about to tattoo so they can work more precisely and see more clearly.
How Much Should U Tip a tattoo artist?
How Much to Tip Tattoo Artists – Unfortunately, there’s no hard and fast rule governing how much to tip tattoo artists. As with tipping waitstaff, 20-25% percent is a good standard. An easy way to include tipping in your budget is to add it in when getting the estimated costs for having your work done.
So, if your tattoo is expected to cost $200, with a 20-percent tip, that’s $240. That said, you can tip more or less, depending on several factors. For one thing, your willingness to tip will depend on how pleased you are with their work.
If you don’t like the work, it makes sense that you would want to tip less. That’s up to you. But keep in mind that a tattoo is a piece of art you wear on your body for personal expression. The tattoo artist makes your vision a reality on your skin. Choosing the right tattoo artist is as important as choosing the right tattoo.
Do your research, first. Don’t be afraid to ask people with great ink where they got it done. Chances are they’d love to tell you about their tattoo artist and the experiences they had with them. Another reason you might tip less or choose not to tip at all is because of a bad experience.
But, like any service-based industry, it’s not just the artist’s attitude that’s a big deal. You want to be treated with dignity and respect, but so does your tattoo artist. Tipping is a part of that, but so is showing up on time and being ready for your appointment.
In most instances, tipping is appropriate and encouraged. While you can tip less than 15%, try to avoid it. Good work should be recognized, and being broke is no excuse not to tip. If you don’t have the money to tip your artist, rethink getting tattooed until you can.
Or, ask your artist if they’d be interested in being tipped in goods or services if you run your own business and can float a sweet freebie their way in lieu of cash. Tipping in cash is fine. That way your tattoo artist gets the entirety of the tip and avoids any service fees or taxes.
If adding your tip to a credit or debit transaction, add a bit more to cover those fees. The best time to tip is after your appointment when you’re paying for your services. If your tattoo artist isn’t the person checking you out, just hit them up afterward with a thank you and, “This is for you.
” They’ll appreciate it. Remember, you’re tipping them based on their professionalism and the quality of their work, so there’s nothing wrong with waiting to make sure you’re pleased with the experience before you tip. You also don’t need to let your tattooer know you’re tipping, but it’s not a bad idea.
- That way they know you didn’t accidentally overpay them or think they owe you change;
- In some rare instances, a tattooer might not accept tips if they’re the owner of the shop, but that’s very unlikely to be the case;
There’s no reason to ask your artist about tipping if you plan on tipping them with cash. And, most credit card interfaces offer prompts for adding tips as part of the check-out process, making it even easier. Gratuities are part of the tattoo experience so don’t feel awkward or uncomfortable about them. 
.
Do tattooed eyes fade?
The decision to walk into a tattoo parlor and have someone needle-inject ink into the whites of your eyeballs is a bad one. That’s according to ophthalmologists, a person who has had the procedure and even the guy who says he invented it. Sclera tattooing, also known as tattooing the whites of the eyes, is so ill-advised that ophthalmologist Philip Rizzuto, a spokesman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, is disappointed he even has to talk about it.
“I would strongly recommend against it,” he said. The practice, he warned, can cause people to go blind and even lose their eye. The world was reminded of the practice when Canadian woman Catt Gallinger of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, recently posted the results of her sclera tattoo gone wrong.
Lily Lu Scleral Tattoo | Extreme Body Modification | Eye Doctor Reacts to a Scleral Tattoo
More on tattoos: Report: More young people have tattoos and piercings than ever before Read more: Will your piercing or tattoo prevent you from getting your dream job? On Sept. 5, the 24-year-old got her right eye inked, which caused purple ink to build up in her eye.
- It has since blurred her vision and is a source of pain;
- Next week, she anticipates undergoing surgery to remove the ink before it dries;
- “I would not recommend anyone to do this,” she said;
- “I don’t think it’s worth the risk;
” Like a tattoo on your arm or hand, sclera tattoos involve placing ink within the skin, said Rizzuto, a clinical professor of surgery at Brown University. He explained the ink is injected into a very thin layer of skin called the conjunctiva, which covers the whites of our eyes.
The result is the whites of our eyes change colors. It’s as permanent as any tattoo. Rizzuto said the danger lies in the inexperience of the hand holding the needle. “Putting any kind of needle on the eye is very dangerous,” he said.
“We do that all the time, but we’re trained for 12 to 18 years how to go about treating the eye. ” An untrained person holding a needle near an eye offers a litany of dangers, Rizzuto said. The needle can scratch the eye, causing infection, or an unsteady hand could send the needle through the sclera, the hard whites of our eyes, and disrupt its normal workings.
- Blindness, the loss of an eye and vision loss are real potentials, he said;
- “It’s completely avoidable by not doing it;
- ” Even the man who says he invented eye tattooing has reservations about how the procedure is performed;
Luna Cobra has been performing body modifications such as splitting tongues and scarifications since the mid-1990s. He started tattooing eyes about a decade ago, but admits the practice has made its way into the hands of people who don’t know what they’re doing.
- He said sclera tattooing should be banned to anyone who is not a licensed eye surgeon;
- He claims the work is unregulated and as a result “people are hurt all the time;
- ” His proposed ban would include himself, but he said he’s willing to give it up;
“I think the art is beautiful and it should continue,” he said, “but I think it should continue in a safe manner. ” Follow Sean Rossman on Twitter: @SeanRossman
Who shouldn’t get a tattoo?
Who invented eyeball tattoo?
Delhi-based 28-year-old Karan has become the first Indian to get his eyeballs tattooed. Karan, a full-time professional tattoo artist and piercer, claims that it does not involve risks and is just a way to look and feel different, first reported by DNA.
Eyeball tattoos are a relatively new extreme body modification where needles inject ink into the whites of a person’s eyes to permanently dye it a different colour. The long-term effects are unknown, reports NDTV.
According to the report, Karan has lost count of the number of tattoos he has on his own body. “At the moment, I have uncountable tattoos and 22 piercings on me,” Karan told NDTV, adding his full body suit of tattoos is a work in progress. “Eventually, I will just have one tattoo: head to finger and toe tips.
” On being asked on why he wanted to get this done, he told DNA : “I always wanted to get something like this done and thus made sure that I get it done from the person who invented eyeball tattooing a decade back — Howard Smith.
Because as a tattoo artist, my eyes are very important to me. ” According to Karan, he was 13 when he got his first tattoo. At 16, he started tattooing as a hobby and soon, opened up his own tattoo studio in Delhi. He told NDTV that six months after beginning his full body suit, the tattoo artist began to wonder what he would look like if he had his eyeballs tattooed.
- He said he spent months debating whether to opt for the permanent procedure and discussed it with his family and friends;
- The procedure, which cost lakhs, was done by an Australian tattoo artist, who Karan claims invented eyeball tattooing, at a tattoo studio in New York, US;
But the medical fraternity isn’t impressed with this act. “In all my career, I have never heard of anything like this. I did not even know that something like this exists and that people are crazy enough to get it done. I cannot really comment on the risks involved,” Dr Atul Kumar, head of ophthalmology department, AIIMS, told DNA.
Meanwhile, Melbourne-based tattoo artist Luna Cobra, who pioneered eyeball tattooing, has supported calls from a leading medical body to ban the eye-watering procedure in Australia and New Zealand after rampant malpractice.
The Melbourne-based practitioner, who has tattooed the eyes of hundreds of clients worldwide, told The New Daily he backed the calls by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists. The high-risk procedure involves permanently changing the colour of the white part of the eye or sclera using coloured dye that can lead to infection, intense pain and permanent vision loss..
What eye tattoo means?
Conclusion – The eye tattoo is a rich and deeply meaningful symbol linked to truth, perception, guidance, and protection. Any number of paths can take you to the true ideal of what an eye tattoo means to your body art choices, whether it’s a warding tribal tattoo in the mold of Ancient Egyptians or an artistic and complex 3D realistic eyepiece that creates a different meaning for all who look at it. –> 
Jono writes about booze and tattoos for Next Luxury, having spent nearly two decades experiencing both in a variety of situations around the globe. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing) from the University of Canberra and a Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing from Deakin University. Jono writes about booze and tattoos for Next Luxury, having spent nearly two decades experiencing both in a variety of situations around the globe.
