Written By: Upneet Pansare | Updated : October 10, 2017 12:08 PM IST
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
