Fears Raised Over "Eye Jewelery"

A new technique which allows jewelery to be inserted into the eye could be dangerous and should be avoided, say British ophthalmic experts. The procedure to insert a tiny platinum jewel stud into the eyeball has been performed in The Netherlands. The technique is harmless and carries no side effects, say its Dutch pioneers. But UK eye specialists disagree and say it could be dangerous and may cause scarring and bleeding. Specially developed jewellery is inserted into the eye's mucous membrane under a local anaesthetic eye drop, at a cost of about £330. It involves inserting a 3.5mm-wide piece of platinum - that the eye will accept - and includes designs such as a glittering half-moon or heart. The procedure has been carried out on six women and one man by a team from the Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery in Rotterdam (NIIOC).

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