Can Blood Vessels Be Reduced for Cosmetic Reasons?
JUL 16, 2014
Question:
For cosmetic reasons, is it possible to have visible blood vessels in the sclera (white of the eye) removed via laser surgery? If so, how would one go about doing so?
Answer:
There are no official conjunctival (clear covering over the white of the eyes) whitening procedures that I know of that utilize a laser. Lasers and other forms of heat could theoretically reduce the appearance of redness by destroying the surface conjunctival vessels. However, they carry the risk of scarring that could lead to a constant foreign body sensation and tearing from the eyelid rubbing on a rough surface. Another disadvantage is that destroying the surface vessels could deprive structures of the eye nutrients and oxygen normally carried by the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva contains many crucial cells such as lymphatics that provide a crucial layer of defense against bacteria and other organisms.