James Allen News Center

An optometrist in India has created the La Ser eye jewelry line, the world’s first contact lenses with diamonds adorning a gold ring around the lenses.  Creator Chandrashekhar Chawan, an eye researcher, claims that cosmetic dentistry that incorporates jewels was his inspiration. The diamond eye pieces come with a hefty price tag— $15,000 a pair— and will be available in white gold and yellow gold. Only 3,996 lenses will be manufactured and Mr. Chawan has plans for their export. Mr. Chawan expects the affluent Bollywood crowd to initially adopt the lenses and start a trend, and also claims that all profits will be used to help people suffering from Stevens Johnson syndrome, a disease that leads to vision loss.

“I got mixed responses ….some said its looks scary, but most of the people loved it,” said Mr. Chawan in an interview with TODAY.com. “Bollywood personalities loved the concept, that it’s going to be ‘in thing’ in fashion soon….Look at Lady Gaga and her followers. People take time to digest [new fashion], until some celebrity starts using it.”

Experts are skeptical about the safety of the lenses, however. The diamond eye pieces are not FDA approved and some experts claim that they may prevent oxygen from reaching the eye and force the capillaries in the eyes to pump extra blood to the area under the lenses.  Critics say vision-correcting contact lenses are supposed to be air permeable to allow the eyes to breathe.

Mr. Chawan counters by saying that the lenses are safe and comfortable and sit 6-9mm away from the eye, a distance that insures that they do not cut the oxygen supply to the eye. Mr. Chawan also admits to receiving mixed responses to the lenses, with some critics regarding them as ugly or demonic looking. Mr. Chawan says they were created out of consumer demand, however, especially from affluent women.

“If your eyes are sparkling with diamonds, no one can look away; their eyes will be glued to you and your personality,” says Chawan.