Altering Iris Color

Abstract

Techniques for altering iris pigment in a human or animal, thereby altering iris color of an iris from a first iris color to a second iris color, are provided. An apparatus includes at least one laser device and a masking device. Another apparatus includes at least one laser device and a contact lens. The at least one laser device can generate at least one beam to selectively remove iris pigment of at least one preselected pigment color from the iris.

1 . A method for changing the iris from a first color to a second color comprising:
 providing an electromagnetic radiation device capable of generating a beam to remove melanin from the anterior surface of the iris of an eye.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first iris color is at least one of black, brown, hazel, or green, and the second iris color is at least one of hazel, green, blue, grey, or violet. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electromagnetic radiation device is a laser. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the active laser medium comprises at least one of crystal, semiconductor, or liquid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the active laser medium comprises crystal, and at least one crystal is doped with at least one of rare-earth ions or transition metal ions. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the laser frequency is at least one of doubled or tripled. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the beam is generated on at least two different calendar days. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation device is between about 250 nanometers and about 2000 nanometers. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the beam is at least one of pulsed or continuous wave. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the beam is pulsed and the pulse width is between about 1 nanosecond and about 200 nanoseconds. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the spot size generated by the beam is between about 5 microns and about 180 microns. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein spots generated by the beam overlap. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the energy density of the laser is between about 0.5 Joules per square centimeter and 1.5 Joules per square centimeter. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electromagnetic radiation device is guided by computer software. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the beam does not enter the pupil. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the nonentry of the beam is accomplished by at least one of occluding the pupil, withholding the beam as it passes in front of the pupil, reducing the energy of the beam as it passes in front of the pupil, or diverting the beam as it passes in front of the pupil. 
     
     
         17 . A method for changing the iris from a first color to a second color comprising:
 applying to the iris of an eye an electromagnetic radiation device capable of generating a beam to remove melanin from the anterior surface of the iris.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the first iris color is at least one of black, brown, hazel, or green, and the second iris color is at least one of hazel, green, blue, grey, or violet. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the electromagnetic radiation device is a laser. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the active laser medium comprises at least one of crystal, semiconductor, or liquid. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the active laser medium comprises a crystal, and and at least one crystal is doped with at least one of rare-earth ions or transition metal ions. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the laser frequency is at least one of doubled or tripled. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the beam is generated on at least two different calendar days. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation device is between about 250 nanometers and about 2000 nanometers. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the beam is at least one of pulsed or continuous wave. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the beam is pulsed and the pulse width is between about 1 nanosecond and about 200 nanoseconds. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the spot size generated by the beam is between about 5 microns and about 180 microns. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 17  wherein spots generated by the beam overlap. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the energy density of the laser is between about 0.5 Joules per square centimeter and about 1.5 Joules per square centimeter. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the electromagnetic radiation device is guided by computer software. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the beam does not enter the pupil. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the nonentry of the beam is accomplished by at least one of occluding the pupil, withholding the beam as it passes in front of the pupil, reducing the energy of the beam as it passes in front of the pupil, or diverting the beam as it passes in front of the pupil. 
     
     
         33 . A system for changing the iris from a first color to a second color comprising: an electromagnetic radiation device capable of generating a beam to remove melanin from the anterior surface of the iris of an eye. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the first iris color is at least one of black, brown, hazel, or green, and the second iris color is at least one of hazel, green, blue, grey, or violet. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the electromagnetic radiation device is a laser. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the active laser medium comprises at least one of crystal, semiconductor, or liquid. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the active laser medium comprises crystal, and at least one crystal is doped with at least one of rare-earth ions or transition metal ions. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the laser frequency is at least one of doubled or tripled. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the beam is generated on at least two different calendar days. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation device is between about 250 nanometers and about 2000 nanometers. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the beam is at least one of pulsed or continuous wave. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the beam is pulsed and the pulse width is between about 1 nanosecond and about 200 nanoseconds. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the spot size generated by the beam is between about 5 microns and about 180 microns. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 33  wherein spots generated by the beam overlap. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the energy density of the laser is between about 0.5 Joules per square centimeter and about 1.5 Joules per square centimeter. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the electromagnetic radiation device is guided by computer software. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the beam does not enter the pupil. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the nonentry of the beam is accomplished by at least one of occluding the pupil, withholding the beam as it passes in front of the pupil, reducing the energy of the beam as it passes in front of the pupil, or diverting the beam as it passes in front of the pupil.