Woman, 21, blinded in both eyes by tattoo artist in botched attempt to dye her eyeballs black like rap star
A BUNGLING tattoo artist who blinded a woman after a botched attempt to dye her eyeballs black has been fined £30,000.
Piotr A. has been slapped with the hefty penalty after he was found guilty of incompetence by a court in Wroclaw, Poland.
The court heard he did not know how to perform eye tattoos and used a similar technique to tattooing skin.
Aleksandra Sadowska, 25, has been left blind in one eye and forced to have the other removed after the hellish inking.
The then 21-year-old had headed to the tattoo studio in Warsaw in April 2017 after browsing local artists online.
She was inspired to get the whites of her eyes tattooed black after seeing Polish rapper Popek undergo the procedure.
The former model said at the time: “I’ve always wanted tattooed eyes, I thought they suited me.”
But after placing blind faith in Piotr A., Aleksandra quickly realised there was catastrophic consequences to the invasive tattoo.
She soon began suffering from pain in her eyes, which the tattooist reportedly said was expected and could be treated with painkillers.
But Piotr A. had penetrated her eyeballs too deeply with his needle, while using an ink that was uncertified for use on eyes.
Aleksandra’s symptoms soon began to snowball and she eventually completely lost sight in her right eye.
Doctors told her the damage was “irreparable” and that her vision in her left eye would soon deteriorate too.
She had developed glaucoma as well as advanced cataracts, seeing her undergo three unsuccessful operations.
The devastated ink-lover was forced to replace one of her eyes with a prosthetic, while she can only see shimmering light without contours out of the other.
She launched a legal battle against the tattoo studio nearly six years on from the botched procedure.
An investigation found Piotr A. had made a series of “serious mistakes” when adding the ink to her eyeballs.
One fundamental error was using body ink for tattooing skin — which should never come into contact with the eye.
I will not lock myself in the basement and get depressed. I have sadness behind me, but I live on.
Aleksandra Sadowska
Aleksandra’s lawyers told local media: “There is clear evidence that the tattoo artist did not know how to perform such a delicate procedure.
“And yet he decided to perform it which led to this tragedy.”
Despite the 25-year-old being enveloped by “sadness” after losing her sight, she previously said she would not hide away.
She explained: “Unfortunately, for now doctors do not give me much optimism for improvement.
“The damage is too deep and extensive. I’m afraid I will be completely blind.’
“I will not lock myself in the basement and get depressed. I have sadness behind me, but I live on.”
Piotra A. – who reportedly continues to run the studio where he mainly performs ear piercings – was convicted of failing to provide assistance to the victim and of causing permanent disability.
He was handed a £30,000 fine as well as 360 hours of community service at the ruling on December 20.
But Aleksandra’s lawyers said they would appeal the decision due to the life-long damage she has suffered.
Attorney Paweł Jagielski said: “In our preliminary assessment, the amount of PLN 150,000 (around £30,000) is still disproportionate to the extent of the harm suffered by severe disability in the form of total loss of sight.”
Another woman has told of her horror ordeal after getting her eyeballs tattooed blue and purple.
Mum-of-five Anaya Peterson, 32, admitted she regrets not listening to warnings she would “go blind” after the risky inking.
