Egypt's Dar al-Ifta Rules on Permissibility of Cosmetic Eye Surgeries Amid Medical Debate

Cosmetic eye color changes have sparked controversy after the Egyptian Medical Syndicate received complaints against an ophthalmologist for performing procedures aimed at altering iris color, through either laser lightening or the implantation of a colored artificial iris.

In an official statement, the Medical Syndicate announced that it had summoned the doctor in question to appear before its Ethics Committee, explaining that the procedures violated professional standards that the syndicate is committed to upholding.

While the debate surrounding eye color changes from a medical and professional standpoint continues, another question arises concerning the Islamic legal ruling on the implantation of colored contact lenses for cosmetic purposes.

Dar al-Ifta addressed this issue in a fatwa published on its official Facebook page, titled: “What is the ruling on implanting colored contact lenses through surgical procedures?”

The fatwa clarified that undergoing surgery to implant colored contact lenses is permissible and there is no objection to it, whether the purpose is therapeutic, such as vision correction, or cosmetic.

However, according to the fatwa, this permissibility is subject to several conditions. Dar al-Ifta stipulated that the procedure must not be intended to deceive or mislead, and that it must not cause harm to the person undergoing it, whether the harm is immediate or may appear in the future.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm