Ignoring her seven-year-old daughter’s warning that eyeball tattooing could lead to blindness, Anaya Peterson, a 32-year-old law student and mother of five, now faces irreversible sight loss.
Enchanted by the “blue-eyed dragon” Amber Luke, an Australian model who suffered temporary blindness after getting her eyeballs inked blue in 2019, Anaya went on to tattoo her own eyeballs blue and purple.
Hospitalized and facing potential permanent blindness following a suspected reaction to the eyeball ink, Anaya, from Belfast, now deeply regrets her choice, alongside her existing tongue split and facial tattoos.
Having chosen to tattoo her right eyeball blue in July 2020 and her left eye purple in December 2020, Anaya woke up in August 2021 with severely swollen eyelids, ultimately leading to a hospital admission due to worsening symptoms.
Reflecting on her daughter’s prophetic concerns and the traumatic experience she endured, Anaya now regrets her decision to imitate Amber Luke.
With her vision clouded by numerous floaters and a heightened risk of glaucoma, Anaya’s eyesight continues to deteriorate, despite being provided with support and accommodations by her university.
Anaya before
Expressing the wish to turn back time and undo her irreversible decision, Anaya now advises her daughter to prioritize her own opinions over the influence of others, as she faces the harsh consequences of succumbing to societal pressures.
