Eyelash Health

While false eyelashes look great, they may not be the best option if you’re prone to suffering from dry eye. A study done at the Georgia Institute of Technology determined the optimal length of the eyelashes to be one-third of the eye’s width, approximately the average natural eyelash length.

The study discovered that eyelashes of the one-third ratio helped form a barrier to control airflow and the rate of tear evaporation. If the eyelashes were shorter, this effect was still present but not as pronounced.

However, the opposite happened when the study looked at eyelashes extending past the one-third ratio. Instead of stopping the air, the longer lashes created a funnel that increased the amount of air and debris that hit the eye.

In addition, here are some other reasons that suggest that lash extensions can contribute to dry eye:

Proper lid cleaning is often not performed by people with false lashes due to a fear of lash loss, leaving a breeding ground for bacteria, fungus, and even Demodex. Since you cannot clean them as thoroughly as natural eyelashes, the potential for dirt, debris and bacteria to build up can increase the chance of infection and dry eye symptoms.

When artificial eyelashes are glued to the eyelid, it’s possible that the meibomian glands could be blocked. This would reduce the amount of oil in your tears and make them evaporate quickly. Additionally, there may be a chance that the eyelash and its glue adhesive falls out and gets stuck in the eye. This will cause irritation and possibly an eye scratch. Patients could also be possibly allergic to the glue adhesive used to attach the eyelashes to the eye.

If you are experiencing dry eye symptoms after getting lash extensions, it’s best to have them carefully examined by an optometrist. Your optometrist may suggest having the lashes professionally removed if it is the root problem.