WARNING: Images are of graphic nature

An Ottawa model intent on tinting her eyeball received a rather painful lesson.

Last month, Catt Gallinger, 24, decided to get a sclera tattoo, a process that involves adding colour to the white of an eye via needle injection.

The woman decided to get purple ink injected into her right eye, but it didn't turn out the way it should have. Instead of having a purple-hued eye, the organ swelled up and began to leak.

There's a possibility she may lose vision in that eye.

She documented her ordeal on Facebook, stating her eye first began to bleed purple ink before swelling shut.

In a post three weeks later, she noted there was hemorrhaging and tearing in the sclera from the needle used to inject the ink, which later led to irritation and vision trouble.

She noted doctors have given her remedies such as ointments and eye drops to help reduce the swelling, dilate the pupil and eliminate the ink.

Gallinger said she's thankful the procedure didn't crush her cornea.

“This is a very big toll on the mental health,” she told The Canadian Press. “At this point, every day is different. Some days I feel a bit better, other days I kind of want to give up.”

Gallinger stated doctors are concerned that non-sterile equipment was used, leading to the infection.

Sadly, the procedure has permanently derailed her modeling career.

“However as it stands I don't see myself ever being comfortable enough to do another shoot,” she said. “I can barely look at myself except for when I have to do my treatments.”

When answering questions about her ordeal, Gallinger said an unnamed tattoo artist pressured her into getting the sclera tattoo.

Ottawa-based ophthalmologist Dr. Setareh Ziai told The Canadian Press she first heard of sclera tattoos about 10 years ago, but now learns of cases across the country monthly.

Although ophthalmologists do occasionally use tattoo ink for medical purposes, such as to reduce glare or corneal scarring, Ziai said the type of process Gallinger underwent bears little resemblance to those approved by the medical profession.

Many tattoo artists are leery of the practice, said David Glantz of Toronto's Archive Tattoo Studio.

Glantz said he knows of very few that offer scleral tattoos despite the growing fascination with the procedure.

He said insurance companies will not cover studios that provide scleral tattoos, adding that no licensed training is currently offered for the procedure, Glantz told The Canadian Press.

- With files from The Canadian Press