When applied correctly by a licensed and trained professional, eyelash extensions are a sure way to improve the look of natural lashes. When applied incorrectly or with the wrong adhesive, they can cause discomfort, infections and permanent loss of eyelashes. If you're looking for ways to improve and simplify your makeup routine, eyelash extensions may seem like an attractive option. Extensions can add volume and length to your lashes, but are they safe for your eyes? Dr.
Masih Ahmed, an ophthalmologist at Baylor Eye Care, and Dr. Rohini Sigireddi, resident of the Department of Ophthalmology at Baylor School of Medicine, shares what you should know when considering using eyelash extensions in the following Q&A. Cases of contact dermatitis, keratoconjunctivitis and allergic blepharitis have also been reported due to the use of various types of eyelash glue, adhesive eyelash tape and eyelash remover. Serious vision-threatening conditions, such as hemophilus keratitis (influenza), a bacterial infection of the cornea, have been reported after eyelash glue eroded the cornea.
Finally, eyelash remover solvent can cause corneal complications, especially in patients who have previously undergone refractive surgery with LASIK. An alternative for those looking for a more regulated pharmacological option to increase eyelash volume is bimatopost (or Latisse), a prostaglandin-like therapy that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a daily application for the treatment of hypotrichosis or lack of eyelash growth. Patients have shown a growth of 2 mm of eyelashes with this therapy.
Learn more about Baylor Eye Care or call 713-798-6100 to request an appointment. Notify me of new publications by email. People are doing everything they can to make their eyes look special. Eyelash extensions, professionally applied to natural eyelashes with a semi-permanent glue, are gaining popularity.
Ophthalmologists say this cosmetic treatment can be safe, as long as consumers take precautions to protect themselves. Infections, whether in the eyes or in the eyelash line, are by far the biggest safety risk of eyelash extensions. It can occur as a result of an untreated allergic reaction or long-lasting irritation, but it can also occur due to loose aftercare or poor hygiene during application. A common adhesive used in eyelash application is cyanoacrylate glue, or superglue, which is known to cause a wide range of eye problems, such as contact dermatitis, conjunctival and corneal abrasion, keratoconjunctivitis and punctiform keratopathy, as well as systemic reactions such as asthma and allergies rhinitis.
Inexperienced eyelash technicians are much more likely to make mistakes that can cause eyelash loss, such as applying too much glue, placing a single extension on multiple lashes, or applying extensions that are too heavy or bulky for the natural lash line to handle. Do a quick web search for the term “eyelash extensions” or “false eyelashes”, and you'll find a lot of ads from local salons and breathless articles about the fashion trend. Demodex mites and bacteria can be trapped near the eyes more easily when eyelash extensions are placed, which can cause eye infections or sties. You can't rub your eyes when you have eyelash extensions, which means you have to work around the eye area when you wash your face.
You can simply ask the counselor to place a drop of adhesive behind your ear, or you can place a few extensions in the outer corner of the eye. While the risks associated with eyelash extensions may seem quite scary, most of them can be avoided with research and care. The pressure exerted on the eye by adhesive eyelash tape and the rubbing needed to remove them have been reported to cause conjunctival damage and subconjunctival hemorrhage. Rubbing, pulling, or pulling can fracture natural eyelashes and even cause permanent damage to the eyelash follicle.
Despite the large number of similar negative anecdotes about eyelash extensions, they are persistently still popular. .
