Lawmakers in Washington state are looking to ban the rare practice of eyeball tattoos because of potential damage inflicted on one’s eyesight.
The tattoos are known as scleral tattoos because they scratch or dye the white outer layer of the eyeball, but not the cornea. Problems in a few instances have been significant, including a Canadian model who lost her sight during a botched session.
“There’s a real high risk of damaging your eyesight and your eye,” said Democratic Rep. Steve Tharinge, the bill’s sponsor. “The optometrists and ophthalmologists are very concerned about this going on and people taking risks they shouldn’t with their eyesight.”