Lavinia Mesquita, a Brazilian tattoo artist and content creator known online as Lav Medusa, has gone viral after revealing the devastating consequences of tattooing the whites of both of her eyes.
Keep reading to learn more.
The Brazilian influencer claims the procedure has affected nearly every aspect of her life, making it difficult to find work, date, and even interact with her children, who she says are frightened by her appearance. She also alleges she now sees the world in black and white, cries black tears, struggles to read and write, and fears she could eventually lose her sight.
Mesquita admitted she never considered how dramatically the tattoos would affect her future.
Finding a job has become a major challenge, she said, with many employers judging her appearance before getting to know her. Visible facial and eye tattoos have long been associated with hiring discrimination, prompting many online commenters to describe them as “career-ending.”
Dating has also become difficult. Mesquita explained that because her pupils blend into the tattooed sclera, people often can’t tell where she’s looking, making conversations awkward. She also said strangers frequently assume she’s involved in satanism despite identifying as an evangelical Christian.
Perhaps most painful, she claims her children have become scared of her appearance, sometimes waking up crying after dreaming about her eyes. Among Mesquita’s most alarming claims is that she now sees only in black and white.
Australian ophthalmologist Dr. Ben LaHood said color vision normally comes from cone cells in the retina, meaning scleral tattooing alone would not usually affect color perception. However, if the procedure damaged deeper structures inside the eye or triggered severe inflammation, color vision could potentially be affected.
The influencer also said she cries black tears. According to Dr. LaHood, this can happen shortly after the procedure because liquid ink may leak from the injection sites. However, persistent black tears long after healing would be unusual.
Mesquita further claims her eyesight has deteriorated to the point where she struggles to read road signs, traffic lights, or even use her phone without assistance.
The influencer admitted she worries the tattoos may eventually leave her completely blind.
Dr. LaHood said blindness is a recognized risk of scleral tattooing, although the likelihood depends heavily on factors such as the technique used, sterility, and whether the needle accidentally penetrates the eye or introduces infection.
Despite her regrets, the ophthalmologist noted that eye tattooing does have legitimate medical applications. In carefully controlled clinical settings, specialists sometimes tattoo parts of the cornea to reduce light sensitivity or improve the cosmetic appearance of damaged eyes.
Mesquita’s experience has reignited debate online about the dangers of extreme body modification, with many social media users calling her story a cautionary tale about a procedure that carries risks far beyond ordinary tattoos.
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