Man Tattoos His Eyeballs, Artists Charge Him £6K

A 27-year-old man in the UK recently underwent a radical body modification: he tattooed both of his sclera (the white part of the eyeballs), shelling out around £6,000 for the procedure. That’s not a college fund — that’s permanent ink in places most people avoid.

Why Someone Would Do This

The trend of eyeball tattoos (aka “scleral ink”) is extreme even among tattoo enthusiasts. Proponents claim it makes your eyes look otherworldly — as if they’re glowing or completely black. But it’s risky, painful, and requires an experienced artist.

In this case, the man specifically wanted to tattoo the whites of his eyes, turning them into a canvas. The actual ink used is injected beneath the surface layer, which can lead to serious side effects if not done correctly.

How It Happened — and Who Did It

The job didn’t come cheap. Reports say he paid about £3,000 per eye (so £6,000 total) for this “scleral tattooing,” a rare and specialist procedure. The artist performing the inkwork insisted he’s done this kind of modification before, ensuring the client knew the risks.

Safety wasn’t ignored — according to coverage, he had to go through “painful” injections and a slow healing process. Eye tattooing is not like a quick back or arm tattoo; it’s delicate, requiring precision and serious trust between client and artist.

But Is It Safe? The Risks Are Real

Ink under or near your eye isn’t a joke. Experts and tattoo pros alike warn about:

• Infection, which could lead to vision loss
• Inflammation and long recovery times
• Ink migration, meaning the pigment could shift in the eye
• Blindness, if done wrong — though that’s rare, it’s still a potential outcome

Medical professionals meant for eye procedures or body mods may refuse to work with tattooed sclerae because of these dangers.

Why People Do It Anyway

• Personal expression: For some, the modified sclera is art — part of how they want to look.
• Shock factor: It’s definitely a way to stand out in a crowd.
• Commitment to transformation: People deeply invested in body modification don’t see limits—they see possibilities.

Why This Story Is Making Headlines

• It pushes the limits of what’s considered “tattooable” real estate.
• Raises ethical questions about body modification and the responsibilities of tattoo artists.
• Makes people wonder: how far is too far when expressing yourself?

You might also want to read: Tattoo Ink and Cancer: Should You Be Worried?