Man's Risky Eye Color Change Surgery Ends in Medical Disaster

A documentary follows the harrowing journey of a biracial man seeking an elective eye color change procedure that goes horribly wrong.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 6:35pm

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A ghostly, translucent X-ray image of a human eye, the iris glowing with an unnatural, icy blue hue. The internal structures of the eye are visible as delicate, luminous lines against a dark background, conveying a sense of the fragility and risk involved in the eye color change procedure.An X-ray image reveals the unseen dangers of an experimental eye color change procedure that left one man's vision permanently altered.Today in Miami

The documentary 'Caterpillar' follows David Taylor, a biracial man from Miami who undergoes an experimental eye color change surgery with the company BrightOcular. Despite the company's claims that the procedure is safe and approved in the U.S., it has not actually been tested or approved by any regulatory agencies. Taylor's surgery in India results in the wrong eye color, leading to additional procedures to try to correct the issue. The documentary has sparked outrage on TikTok, with viewers expressing sympathy for Taylor's struggles with self-confidence and the risky lengths he went to change his appearance.

Why it matters

This story highlights the dangers of unregulated, experimental cosmetic procedures and the lengths some people will go to in pursuit of changing their appearance. It raises questions about body image, self-esteem, and the ethics of the beauty industry catering to people's insecurities. The documentary has also sparked important discussions about the need for better oversight and safety standards around elective surgeries.

The details

In the documentary 'Caterpillar,' David Taylor, a biracial man from Miami, reveals he has past trauma related to his appearance and wants to change his eye color from brown to ice grey in hopes of improving his life opportunities. He finds BrightOcular, a company that claims to offer a safe, approved procedure to permanently change iris color using an artificial implant. However, the procedure has not actually been approved or tested by any U.S. regulatory agencies, despite the company's marketing. Taylor travels to India for the surgery, which is performed alongside multiple other patients simultaneously. The procedure goes wrong, leaving Taylor with the incorrect eye color. He must undergo additional surgeries to try to correct the issue, including having the implants removed entirely due to vision problems. The documentary has sparked outrage on TikTok, with viewers expressing sympathy for Taylor's struggles and criticizing the dangerous, unregulated nature of the eye color change procedure.

  • In 2023, the documentary 'Caterpillar' was released.
  • The documentary recently hit the Netflix catalog.

The players

David Taylor

A biracial man from Miami who undergoes an experimental eye color change surgery that goes wrong, as documented in the film 'Caterpillar.'

BrightOcular

A company that claims to offer a safe, approved procedure to permanently change iris color using an artificial implant, despite the procedure not being approved or tested by any U.S. regulatory agencies.

Tiny Harris

A celebrity who famously had her eye color permanently changed by BrightOcular in Africa in 2014, claiming the procedure was successful.

American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)

The professional association for ophthalmologists that has warned about the risks of the eye color change procedure, including glaucoma, cataracts, and blindness.

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What they’re saying

“There's some insecurities going on, he (Taylor) had a rough, rough life. He just needed something to give him a confidence boost.”

— @susthepod, TikTok user

“I really felt bad for him, not because of the surgery but because of why he wanted to get the surgery. He needed a hug, not surgery.”

— Anonymous, TikTok user

“He put too much faith in eye color. He thought it was going to make a miracle.”

— Anonymous, TikTok user

What’s next

Taylor continues to share his story and promote the documentary 'Caterpillar' in hopes of raising awareness about the dangers of the unregulated eye color change procedure.

The takeaway

This cautionary tale highlights the risks of pursuing experimental, unproven cosmetic procedures in the pursuit of changing one's appearance. It underscores the need for greater regulation and oversight in the beauty industry to protect vulnerable individuals from medical disasters.