Changing Eye Color Permanently

By Stephanie Stahl

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Colored contacts are one thing. Now there's a more permanent way to change the color of your eyes. Health reporter Stephanie Stahl has more on the risky procedure that's sending some people around the world.

Beaming blue eyes like movie stars Mel Gibson and Bradley Cooper are something actor and musician Toryn Green always wanted. He says the attention they bring is priceless.

"People really tend to gravitate towards blue eyes," Toryn said. But he wasn't born with baby blues. "I was born with hazel eyes."

To change that, Toryn went to India for eye surgery for something called BrightOcular, a silicon iris implant.

The implant "is placed inside the eye surgically in front of the natural iris," explained ophthalmologist Dr. David Wallace. Dr. Wallace does not offer the procedure. Iris implants are not approved by the FDA, so American doctors don't offer them.

Dr. Wallace agreed to examine Toryn. To the naked eye, the implants are nearly impossible to spot, but with the help of Dr. Wallace's light and instruments, they come into focus.

The brown ring on the inside of the implants is Toryn's natural iris. While the implants may look artificial when magnified, in real life, "everyone seems to love the results," he said.

Well, not exactly everyone.

"I would not choose to have these for my own eyes, so I would not want to recommend it for you," said Dr. Wallace.

Dr. Wallace's examination found no issue with Toryn's eyes, no signs of damage, and Toryn's vision is nearly perfect.

"You're at least a sharp 20/25 in both eyes," Dr. Wallace said to Toryn.

"His eyes seem to be tolerating the artificial implants well," Dr. Wallace said. "What we don't know is what the downstream risk is." There have been reports of permanent eye damage linked to the iris implants.

Toryn says he went into surgery with his eyes wide open about potential risks. "I researched it for about a good 8 months or so before I decided to pull the trigger," he said.

Now, Toryn says, "I have no regrets, not one doubt. I always wanted to have blue eyes. The fact that it's now scientifically possible is exciting to me."

The operation to change eye color costs $5000 to $7000. Toryn didn't pay that since he's now working with BrightOcular to tell people about his experience. The company is eventually hoping to get FDA approval here in the United States.