Bizarre eye tattoo proves to be an eyesore

For anyone who thought tattooing on the inside of lips was over the top, think again, and say hello to eyeball tattoos, perhaps the most bizarre and disturbing form of tattoo ever known to man. A man in Toronto, Canada, was the first person to undergo the eyeball-tattooing procedure. "Mr. Pauly Unstoppable," or as he is nicknamed, had a tattoo artist at a Canadian body modification convention turn the white of his eyes, or the sclera, completely blue. This required more than forty ink injections and the aid of a syringe. Apparently, when the artist tried to use the traditional tattooing needle, the procedure failed.

"I really have to emphasize again that the procedure was extensively researched and done by people who were aware of the risks and possible complications and that it should not be casually attempted," Unstoppable said. "Now that this experiment has been started, please wait for us to either heal or go blind before trying it."

New York City LASIK surgeon Sandra Belmont said cosmetic tattooing of the cornea can be extremely dangerous.

Belmont said a series of potential complications can occur while undergoing tattooing of the cornea, including infection, perforation and hemorrhage.

"I certainly recommend corneal tattooing in a patient with a corneal scar, but I do not recommend these procedures to be performed solely for the purpose of body adornment, due to significant vision-threatening side effects," Belmont said.

Tattoo and Piercing Magazine publisher and procedure witness Lane Jensen said eyeball tattoos are "trippy."

"It definitely starts some interesting conversations," Jensen said.

Jensen wasn't joking; the eye tattoo has sparked controversy not only among other tattoo artists, but also at Youngstown State University.

Local tattoo artist Lance of Black Heart Tattoos said he does not condone eyeball tattoos at all.

"Its ridiculous and stupid," Lance said.

Lance said under no circumstances would he perform a tattoo on an eyeball. Although he said he has tattooed just about every place on a human's body, including the face, tattooing the eyeball draws the line.

"It's very irresponsible," Lance said. "It makes [tattoo artists] all look like idiots. It's more of an injection than a tattoo."

Spider and Mike of Youngstown's Spider Tattoos said they feel similarly.

"We believe that it's a procedure that shouldn't be tampered with," Spider said.

YSU students are not too fond of the "eyeball tats" either.

Junior C.T. Clay says he would never consider it, and that it's the most ludicrous thing he has ever heard.

"There's not a chance in hell I would ever get it; it's ridiculous," Clay said.

Senior Arcale Peace said eyeball tattooing is very weird, and that he finds it hard to imagine how someone would even go about performing such a procedure.

"I have nothing against tattoos, but I just can't see how you can put one on your eyeball without destroying your eye," Peace said.

Most people worry about regretting tattoos on ankles or arms. For junior Melanie Diorio, although she would never consider an eyeball tattoo, her biggest concern about them is that they would be impossible to hide. Health concerns also worry her.

"I'm sure it will get infected easily, and it will probably lead to blindness," Diorio said.

Freshman Elizabeth Bishop was completely shocked when she saw a picture of a tattooed eye on the internet.

"My friends had been telling me about it, so I went on to see it and I almost fell out my chair," Bishop said. "It's disgusting. It looks more like dye than a tattoo. It's the most stupid thing I've ever seen. I think anyone who would ever think about getting it is an idiot and senseless.