Believe it or not, our wonderful natural eyelashes play quite an important role in the health of our eyes. With their unique curved shape, not only do they act as a filter to sunlight, but they also help with maintaining eye moisture and reducing the air flow to the ocular surface.
While false lashes may give you the glamorous look you've always wanted, due to the fact that they are mostly synthetic ( with very few natural options ), means that they need to be correctly applied by a qualified professional.
Complications may include:
eye injuries : glue can cause scratching of the cornea ( the highly important front surface of the eye, partly responsible for clear vision )
infection : possible corneal ulcers and conjunctivitis, bacterial and fungal infections also happen when lashes are not glued on in a hygienic environment
allergic reactions : glue contains formaldehyde which is responsible for reactions such as rash, swelling, burning, stinging ( all of which can happen either immediately or up to one week after contact )
damage : to the natural lashes as they cause stress on the hair follicles, making them more succeptible to falling out and possibly not growing back again
clogging of hair follicles : that results in external hordeolum which makes the lids feel heavy
vision loss : if bacterial infection or corneal ulceration occurs
What to look out for if you have false lashes:
swelling
soreness / tenderness
fever
pain
light sensitivity
blurred vision
redness
As mentioned before, these are best applied by qualified professionals, but in the event that you have them, here are a few tips that may help:
avoid lashes that have embellishments like glitter or jewels on them
try avoiding glue that contains formaldehyde
limit the amount of glue used
remove the lashes gently
clean the eyelids thoroughly after removal
do not share lashes with others
If you are wearing false lashes and experience any adverse reactions such as those listed above, please seek the help of your eyecare professional timeously.