Doctors use keratopigmentation to treat people with diseased or injured eyes. It can give patients with cloudy corneas caused by infections or trauma the appearance of an iris. It can also help reduce debilitating glare caused by iris or corneal damage, said Dr. Roberto Pineda, an ophthalmologist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear who has performed medical keratopigmentation for almost 30 years. In the 2010s, doctors in Europe began experimenting with the procedure for cosmetic reasons. Many eye specialists say it is irresponsible for doctors to perform keratopigmentation on people with healthy eyes. The benefits might outweigh the risks for patients with diseased corneas, but there isn't enough evidence to say the same for healthy people, critics say.
