Eye health: ‘I ended up in the hospital for my false eyelashes’

Since it was Saturday night, she had to wait until the next morning to go back to the salon and take off her false eyelashes.

After having them removed, she went to the emergency room of a hospital in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, where she was advised to get emergency eye care.

“I could barely sleep that night, it was 3am when I woke up and I couldn’t open my eyes. According to the doctor, I had an infection, but I didn’t know if it was from the glue or the synthetic eyelashes I used,” she testifies Valeria Campos.

To fully recover from the infection, Valeria had to take antibiotics for seven days. While the issue didn’t affect her vision at all, she says her natural lashes didn’t grow back or have the volume they had before the extension procedure.

“The number of lashes I have has decreased because I’ve had a lot of natural hair loss,” she concludes.

Finding long and voluminous eyelashes beautiful, psychology student Adne Lucilla Carvalho Santos decided to have the extension procedure with synthetic threads done for the first time in July.

What I didn’t expect was that I would have an allergic reaction.

A few minutes after completing the procedure, the student recalls that she began to feel discomfort in her eyes. The first symptoms of the infection were redness and burning.

“I knew it wasn’t normal to feel this pain and the next day I had an eye sore. I saw an ophthalmologist and the doctor warned me about the dangers of wearing eyelash extensions. I had to take antibiotics and use ointment to relieve the pain and irritation,” he recalled.

Thinking the allergy was due to a specific product used by the professional who applied her lashes, Adne sought out another salon after her treatment to replace her extensions. But again, she had an allergic reaction.

“I woke up at dawn and I could not open my eyes, I went to the bathroom and I saw that my eyelids were very stuck together and with a lot of discharge I had to take the medicine again and I realized that eyelash extensions did not work for me,” adds the student.

The eyelash extension procedure is nothing more than a procedure that involves “gluing” synthetic or silk threads to each strand of natural eyelashes, making them appear longer and fuller.

For this type of procedure, a special glue is used.

“If possible, do a test with the substance that will be used for the extension, especially for people who tend to get irritation when using chemicals,” explains Dr. Ediléia Bagatin, coordinator of the Dermatology cosmetology department of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology .

“This test is usually applied to the inner region of the arm and not to the eye. If after three days there is no allergic reaction, the person can do it a little safer,” he adds.

Although it seems harmless, the continued use of false eyelashes and a lack of proper cleaning and maintenance can cause a variety of problems, ranging from the natural loss of the hairs that protect the eyes, leaving them exposed and unprotected, to more serious pathologies. such as corneal ulcers.

“The function of eyelashes is to protect the eyes from the entry of light, dust and other fragments that remain suspended in the air. Particles and residues of possible allergens are deposited there daily. The most common complication associated with eyelash extensions is blepharitis, followed by allergic conjunctivitis, corneal damage, loss or breakage of natural eyelashes,” says Claudia Del Claro, ophthalmologist, board member of the Brazilian Society of Ophthalmology.

The glue used is a very important factor in avoiding allergies and problems such as keratitis (chemical burns).

In addition, false eyelashes require extra attention when cleaning: impurities increase the risk of eye contamination.

“To try to minimize complications, cleaning the eyelids and eyelashes with a specific non-greasy product, or even a neutral shampoo, twice a day is indicated. It is very common for patients to avoid washing their eyelashes for fear eyelash extensions fall out, but it’s quite the opposite. Eyelash extensions fall out prematurely when not cleaned,” adds Del Claro.

Improper application or maintenance of eyelash extensions, or even misuse of these strands, can trigger some eye diseases.

Indeed, the eyelash region also contains several glands responsible for lubricating the eyes, which can be affected after the procedure.

The keratitisone of the most common conditions, is characterized by the appearance of small superficial wounds that can be caused by direct trauma of the glue used to lengthen the eyelashes on the surface of the eye.

These lesions, although superficial, are quite painful and are usually accompanied by the sensation of having something in the eye, tearing, redness and swelling of the eyelid.

The blepharitis it is an inflammation of the eyelid that causes redness, itching and a collection of secretions. In this condition, the oil present in human tears accumulates on the eyelid, which increases the risk of bacteria growing there.

“When you notice discomfort after applying eyelashes, the first thing to do is wash the area with a saline solution to remove any contaminants that may have reached the eye,” explains Patrícia Akaishi, ophthalmologist at the Hospital de Clínicas of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo in Ribeirão Preto.

“And if the problem persists, it is advisable to consult a doctor to make sure there is no glue or thread residue on the ocular surface and start treatment,” he adds.

Also, wearing eyelash extensions for a long time can affect the arching of the natural lash strands, which then no longer line up properly. This is because the material used in the extensions is heavier than natural lashes.

“I definitely do not recommend the use of eyelash extensions, as it is a procedure with a high complication rate, which can lead to permanent eyelash loss, which is so important for eye protection. Glue can also get into the eyes, causing permanent damage vision problems,” adds Del Claro.