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Eyeball Jewelry - The Newest Body Mod Getting Attention
From Karen Hudson,
Pushing the Envelope Too Far?
Henry David Thoreau once said, “The eye is the jewel
of the body”. That may be true, but some people seem
to be taking that quote literally, and a new wave of body
art fashion is gaining attention – eyeball jewelry.
The Concept
The Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery (NIIOS)
has devised a decorative platinum implant (JewelEye) that
can be inserted under a thin membrane in the eye, which holds
the implant in place. Since the membrane is clear, the implant
can be seen clearly against the white of the eye. The jewels
currently come in just a few shapes, but the Institute says
other shapes can be requested.
That is the concept.
It’s innovative, it’s edgy, it’s attractive
and it was developed by ophthalmologic experts. What more
could you ask for? If it’s endorsed by medical experts,
it must be safe, right? Well, let’s see...how many drugs
have been developed by medical experts and even approved by
the FDA that were later discovered to be dangerous? How many
products are recalled every year for hazards that previously
passed inspection by company experts? Don’t assume something
is safe just because it was developed or endorsed by “professionals”.
Clinical Trial Results
The next line of defense would be clinical trials. The NIIOS
website says, “Patient satisfaction is high and no side
effects of the treatment have been noticed with a follow-up
of more than one year.” Well, that must mean it’s
OK! If people can have no side effects or problems for over
a year, then that proves it’s not dangerous, right?
Tell that to the people suffering from asbestos-related illnesses
– how long did it take scientists to figure out how
dangerous asbestos is? Or how about lead? How many millions
of homes were painted with leaded paint before they realized
it was making people sick? Just because a product appears
safe for a year does not necessarily make it so.
Already in Demand
Is it popular? Oh, yeah. It just came out in 2002 and already
“there's a waiting list in the Netherlands of people
anxious to receive the implants. And that's at a cost in U.S.
dollars of up to $1,200”, according to About.com’s
Vision expert, Marilyn Haddrill.
Legislators Stepping In
JewelEyes haven’t even officially hit the U.S. yet and
the state of Illinois is already on the defensive, attempting
to ban the procedure. As of March 6, 2005, an Illinois state
committee already approved a bill to ban it, sponsored by
Rep. Kevin Joyce, and is now before the House. If it passes,
it could come with a penalty of up to three years in prison.
Some would say this is the government sticking its Bureaucratic
nose where it doesn’t belong, which may be true. Kevin
Joyce serves as a perfect example of how government likes
to interfere in matters of personal choice simply because
it can. Is Kevin Joyce an ophthalmologic expert? Or has he
researched this procedure in depth and come to a scientific
conclusion that this procedure would definitely be harmful
to his citizens? No. Kevin Joyce was quoted as calling the
procedure “gross” and saying, "I don't think
anybody should be messing with the eyeball.” Well, that
sounds like a good enough reason to pass a bill that will
affect over 12 million people, now doesn’t it?
My Personal Conclusion
I am not an ophthalmologic expert. I do not know enough about
the eye to know what, if any, kind of damage can be done by
this product. What I do know is that my eyesight is very precious
to me. I know that I am not going to take any kind of unnecessary
risk to my sight for the sake of vanity. I know that there
are plenty of other ways I can decorate my body without resorting
to such extreme measures. I cannot make these decisions for
you, nor would I want to. You have been presented with the
information that is currently available, and you have to base
your decision on that. For the sake of those who decide to
go forward with the procedure, I hope it turns out to be as
harmless as they say and that you enjoy it!
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