Self-inflicted injection of tattoo ink in the anterior chamber: a failed attempt to change the color of the eyes.

Abstract

We report the case of a 29-year-old man, a tattoo artist by profession, with a history of schizophrenia, who was admitted to our hospital after injecting tattoo pigments in the anterior chamber of both eyes using a dermograph. The patient was diagnosed with penetrating ocular injury with secondary glaucoma, endotheliitis, and uveitis. Anterior chamber washout was performed immediately. At 4 months' follow-up the patient had a visual acuity of 20/25 in each eye and 360° peripheral anterior synechiae; there still were traces of tattoo pigment at the trabecular meshwork and endothelial corneal layer.