Health experts have warned that eyelash extensions - a popular beauty treatment used to lengthen and thicken natural lashes - could lead to serious eye problems.
The treatment, commonly offered at high street beauty salons, involves attaching individual synthetic, silk or mink fibres to natural eyelashes using strong, waterproof adhesives.
A full set typically costs between £60 and £150 and needs refills every two to three weeks. While extensions can last up to six to eight weeks, natural lashes shed as part of their growth cycle, so the look gradually thins without maintenance.
But doctors say the treatment is not risk-free. A recent case report from Coliquio, part of the Medscape Professional Network, described a 38-year-old woman who had worn eyelash extensions for five years.
She developed severe eye pain after a caesarean section under general anaesthesia.
During surgery, her eyelash extensions prevented her eyelids from fully closing, making standard protective eye covers impossible to use.
Instead, surgeons had to cover her eyes with saline-soaked gauze taped in place.
After the procedure, she developed a small corneal defect, blepharitis (inflamed eyelids) and dry eye.
Her vision stayed normal, but she said the first 48 hours after delivery were more painful than the C-section itself.
Some people also develop swollen, itchy eyelids after getting eyelash extensions.
The inflammation can cause redness, irritation and scaly crusts along the eyelid margin.
Experts say the problem can be made worse when wearers avoid washing their lashes to make the extensions last longer, allowing bacteria and debris to build up along the lash line.
Chronic eyelid inflammation is often linked to problems with the meibomian glands - tiny oil-producing glands along the inner eyelid that keep tears from evaporating too quickly.
Damage to these glands can disrupt the tear film, leading to dry eye and increasing the risk of corneal problems such as ulcers, keratitis and scarring.
Long or heavy artificial lashes may prevent the eyelids from fully closing, further increasing the risk of irritation and damage to the eye's surface.
Some people may also have an allergic reaction to the glue used to attach extensions, causing redness, swelling and discomfort.
In some cases, hair follicles can be damaged, leading to loss of natural lashes.
For those avoiding the cost and upkeep of extensions, eyelash serums may seem like a safer alternative.
But experts warn many of these products contain powerful ingredients that can cause burning, irritation and even permanently darken eye colour.
These ingredients are related to prostaglandin analogues, such as bimatoprost, a prescription drug originally developed to treat glaucoma that was later found to make eyelashes grow longer and thicker.
Similar compounds in cosmetic lash serums can cause serious side effects, including fat loss around the eyes, drooping eyelids, unwanted hair growth and skin darkening.
Investigations have found that nearly one in four lash serums sold in the UK may contain these potentially harmful ingredients, sometimes without consumers realising.
What is blepharitis?
Blepharitis causes swollen, itchy eyelids. It's not usually serious and can often be treated by washing your eyelids every day.
Blepharitis symptoms often come and go.
Symptoms of blepharitis include:
- sore eyelids
- itchy eyes
- a gritty feeling in the eyes
- flakes or crusts around the roots of the eyelashes
- eyelids sticking together in the morning when you wake up
Blepharitis can be caused by:
- a type of bacteria that lives on the skin
- a skin condition, such as seborrhoeic dermatitis
- the glands inside the eyelids not producing enough oil
Blepharitis cannot be spread to other people.