EyeWear

The Cosmetic Eyewear: False Eyelashes

The eyes provide a striking highlight on the face. They are the first focus when looking at a person’s face. The eyelash also gives the eye a distinct appearance.

The fluttering appearance thick, dark and long eyelashes give a lady, steers the desire for ladies to have them. But we know not every lady has eyelashes naturally this way, so false lashes came in eventually after considering the time consumed to apply mascara daily in our high speed, no-time-to-waste world. What are other things we need to know about this purely cosmetic eyewear?

1961, film director D.W. Griffith wanted to create a ‘larger than life’ appearance of Seena Owen’s eye in a role she played, this led to the invention of added lashes. They were invented from natural human hair and attached to her lashes. That changed the approach to the beautification of the eye till now although it started trending less than two decades ago. Today almost every lady wants it on. It has even become part of bridal wears during weddings.
The false lashes today are made from synthetic materials and glued to the already existing natural lashes and not to the lids, with semi-permanent glue.

STRAIGHT TO THE POINT

  • For Eye health purpose, it is most advisable to wear false lashes occasionally if you must wear. There are people who have them on year round, doing top up every 3 to 4 weeks to cover for dropped lash. But it is essential to know that your natural lashes, though they beautify, are not there for cosmetic purpose. They carry out health functions that false lashes can’t.
  • The natural eyelash prevents dirt, debris, sweat, bacteria and other particles from getting into the eyes by trapping and dislodging. The false lashes trap and retain them. This has serious health implication.
  • Accumulated bacteria retained by false lashes gives room for infection, putting the eyes in harm’s way. See an Eye Doctor when this results.
  • Allergies: Some of the chemicals in the glue can cause irritation and tearing among other discomforts that may result. Not everybody shows an allergy to false eyelash fixture though. Formaldehyde has been identified in some of the eyelash glue and it is not health-friendly AT ALL.
  • Always make sure a professional technician fixes your false lashes. Improper proceed or incompetence puts your eye at great risk. Attaching false lash to eyelid margin instead of the natural eyelash comes with its consequences especially from the glue.
  • The place of skill and proficiency of the technician cannot be overemphasised as the introduction of the glue into the eyes leads to vision compromise (blindness) where the cornea is severely affected. Read Eye Emergencies to know first aid approach to use. Also, the improper application of glue can have both upper and lower lids stick together. That’s not funny.
  • Depending on the type of false lash, the volume of lash and glue usage, the weight of the false eyelash on the natural eyelash can cause the natural lash to fall off leaving a scanty eyelash look. Although the natural eyelash has a lifecycle of 60 to 90 days, after which it falls, the effect of false eyelash weight can cause its fall to come earlier.
  • Having false eyelashes that are too long will disturb spectacle usage. Regular brushing of the lens surface by the lash can leave dirt on the lens and disturb vision. Also, discomfort results from friction when blinking as the lash makes contact with the lenses.

In the next post, we’ll look at alternatives to false eyelash. Watch out!

It’s no news that ladies can take a lot of risks to look good and we all appreciate it, just like we promote that you always make the best health choice.
Look good, see well, and be good.

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Dr. Trust Egharevba
Dr. Trust Egharevba is an Optometrist and Life Coach. His passion is to see healthy people live life to the fullest. He enjoys sharing knowledge, making people happy and being happy as well.

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4 Comments

  1. Wow educative, thanks so much.

  2. This is an eye opener. Well done Dr.

  3. Nice one sir.

  4. Thank you for the reminder that lashes are not for cosmetic effect. I think we are gradually forgetting that!

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