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Just in case you had the intention to tattoo your eye, you'd better act fast. Washington lawmakers are considering a bill banning scleral tattoos in the state.
"In some ways, it sounds like it can be a bit funny, but it's really serious," said state representative Steve Tharinger. "…. It's horrible to see what can happen. "
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Tharinger represents Washington's 24th Legislative District, which covers much of the Olympic Peninsula. He is one of the 17 sponsors of HB 1856, which aims to ban scleral tattoos or to offer to perform the procedure. Tharinger says that industry representatives of optometrists and ophthalmologists have been contacting state legislators to do something about scleral tattooing, at the root of the bill.
Scleral tattoos are made on the white and fibrous outer layer of the eyeball; not the cornea.
"The strict definition of tattooing is the introduction of pigment to the surface of the skin," said James Hillary, a tattooist based in Seattle. "But if I understand correctly, the scleral tattoo is an injection of pigment using a hypodermic syringe. So, it's really using medical devices to inject a pigment into the white of the eyeball. "
Representative Tharinger stated that he did not know how many people practiced scleral tattooing in Washington State or were affected by this phenomenon. He knows that horror stories have made national headlines and he feels that the concerns of professionals such as optometrists must be taken seriously.
"There is a very high risk of damaging your eyesight and eyes," said Tharinger. "Optometrists and ophthalmologists are very concerned about this and people who take risks should not be blind."
"Even professionals, doctors, optometrists and ophthalmologists say that this membrane is so delicate that it is very easy, if you inject liquid or color on it, to hurt your eyes," he said. -he declares. "It's just too risky, the professionals think, so it's the concern that a person on a whim may want to turn a crimson eye and that in the end, she may lose her sight . "
HB 1856 will be heard by the Health and Wellness Committee this week and may be voted on by the committee by Friday. The Rules Committee in the House is the next step.
Scleral tattoos
James Hillary has worked in the tattoo industry for over 30 years and currently works at Seattle Tattoo Emporium. He attends many international tattoo parlors and is familiar with body art trends.
He did not personally see scleral tattoo in the industry. In fact, he only heard about what was happening in the prisons and is surprised that he has attracted enough attention to be banned.
"It's a very recent thing and rarely served," Hillary said. "It seems rather ridiculous that it deserves a law."
"I do not see all this in the tradition of tattooing; it's a special case, "said Hillary. "We do not have phone calls to talk to us about it. I attend major international tattoo conventions in which people from all over the world exhibit and practice tattoos, and I have never seen this phenomenon. "
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