Fashion Updates: Applying make-up to the inside of the lid can trigger infections and blurred
vision, doctors warn.
It is a make-up staple for women
around the world. But applying eyeliner incorrectly could damage the eyes,
scientists have warned.
***Liner applied on inside of the
lash line is very likely to move into eye itself
***Can cause number of problems
including infections and vision problems
***Contact lens wearers are most
affected as make-up clings to the lens
***Instead, liner should only be
applied to outer lid of the eye, say experts
They say liner applied on the
inside of the lash line is very likely to move into the eye itself and cause
symptoms. Eye doctors often see patients coming into clinics with eyeliner
residue stuck to contact lenses - or trapped in the coating over their eyes
called the tear film, said study leader Alison Ng, of the University of
Waterloo, Canada. The waxes and pigments in makeup may bind to contact lenses,
reducing vision quality and potentially even causing blurred vision. Experts
warn build-up of make-up on contact lenses can also irritate the eye.
Danger: Eyeliner applied to the
inside of the lash line is very likely to move into the eye itself and cause
problems such as blurred vision and infections, scientists in the UK. Applying liner close to the eye
also means the eyeliner can become seeded with bacteria. Dr. Ng added this is the first
research to show that particles from pencil eyeliner move into the eye. 'We wanted to look at how
differently eyeliner migrated into the tear film when applied in two different
ways: inside the lash line and outside of the lash line,' she said.
For the study, three women aged
between 26 and 30, with no known eye conditions had their eyes filmed. The
volunteers were assigned to one of two groups. One applied eyeliner inside the
lash line, close to the eye, while the other applied eyeliner to the skin
outside of the lash line, further from the eye.
They returned the next day and
received eyeliner in the opposite location. To test the effect of eyeliner, the
researchers took video of each participant's eyes five to 10 minutes after
applying make-up, and then counted how many particles of eyeliner moved into
the eye. They found that between 15 and 30 per cent more particles moved into
the eye when eyeliner was applied to the inside of the lash line. The makeup
also moved more quickly into the eye when eyeliner was applied inside the lash
line.
A second round of videotaping two
hours after applying the make-up showed there was little to no eyeliner
remaining in the tear film, Reuters Health reports. Dr Ng said: 'We noticed
that the makeup migration happened quicker and was greater when eyeliner was
put on the inner lid margin. In many cases, most of the particles wash away
within two hours but they can stick to contact lenses causing greater
discomfort and are worse for sensitive or dry eyes. And it is worse if eyeliner
is continuously being applied because tiny particles are allowed to then build
up, said Dr Ng. Make-up wearers can reduce the
risk of complications by keeping products away from the inner lid margin - and
only applying eyeliner to the outside of the lashes along the eyelid. Make-up
wearers can reduce the risk of complications by keeping products away from the
inner lid margin - and only applying eyeliner to the outside of the lashes
along the eyelid. This is because many of the ingredients of eyeliner, such as
oils, silicones, gums and waxes are designed to make the product stick so it
adheres to eyelids.
'If they have eyeliner stuck to
their lenses, increasing deposits might cause vision disruption as the lens
becomes cloudier. The researchers say that make-up wearers can reduce the risk
of complications by keeping products away from the inner lid margin - and only
applying eyeliner to the outside of the lashes along the eyelid.
HOW TO AVOID EYE PROBLEMS WHEN
WEARING LINER
Make-up wearers can reduce the
risk of complications by following these steps:
* Keep products away from the
inner lid margin
* Only apply eyeliner to the
outside of the lashes along the eyelid
* Thoroughly sharpen the pencil
eyeliner before each application and get rid of the stuff that's stuck to the
end. This means you'll have a fresh tip, which can help prevent infection
* With twist-up eyeliner, cut
some off the end before each use
* Always make sure to fully
remove eye makeup before bed.
Dr Ng advised that If you thoroughly
sharpen your pencil eyeliner before each application and get rid of the stuff
that's stuck to the end, you'll have a fresh tip which can help prevent
infection. With twist-up eyeliner, cut some
off the end before each use. And always make sure to fully remove eye makeup
before bed. However writing in the journal Eye and Contact Lens, she warns the
results may not apply to everyone because the participants were all Caucasian. She
explained that Asian people's eyelid shapes in particular may differ from those
of the test subjects.
However she added it's unclear
whether this will affect the way eyeliner moves into the eye. Commenting on the
study, Dr Joseph Ciolino, a physician at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary,
pointed out the study used a glitter eyeliner pencil to more easily spot the
particles. However he said the results can likely be applied to a range of
different products, including mascara, as the dye from the make-up can build up
in the tear duct and cause excess tearing.
Indeed, getting eyeliner in the
tear film can be uncomfortable, particularly for people with sensitive eyes or
dry eye syndrome.
People with dry eyes may have
fewer tears to dilute the makeup, Dr Ng noted.
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