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Makeup Tips for Dry Eye: Can you wear eyelash extensions?  

When you’re suffering from Dry Eye Disease, you may be reluctant to introduce anything to your routine that could irritate or aggravate your tired, itchy eyes. But understandably, you might still want to look and feel good. Should you give up on makeup and beauty treatments altogether?  

 

Of course not, there’s still a way to wear makeup and treat yourself without making your Dry Eye Disease worse or letting it control your life. It’s just about choosing the right products and treatments, and ensuring you’re committed to self-care and treating your Dry Eye Syndrome.  

 

Eyelash Extensions

One of the biggest new beauty treatments is eyelash extensions. One survey of women aged 18-65 showed that ¾ of them wanted longer, thicker, and darker lashes.[1] The majority of those looking for the treatment are women – in fact, 98% of lash extension customers are women.[2]

This is incredibly important when considering how eyelash extensions affect dry eyes as the condition is more common in women than men.  

So, can women with Dry Eye Disease jump onto the beauty trend and wear eyelash extensions?  

 

What is Dry Eye Disease?

Dry Eye Disease is an incredibly common condition that causes symptoms of irritation, redness, tiredness, and burning of the eyes.[3] This happens because of insufficient tear quantity or inadequate tear quality.[4]

 

It has been linked to hormonal issues that are common when women enter perimenopause[5] as well as age, lifestyle, and environmental factors such as spending time in windy or dusty environments.[6]

 

A close up of a woman's eyes

 

Why can eyelash extensions trigger or aggravate Dry Eye Disease?

It is worth noting that there are two different types of eyelash extensions – temporary and permanent. Temporary eyelash extensions are usually strips or clusters that are glued to the eyes and removed after a few hours. Permanent eyelash extensions can last for weeks and are applied individually or in clusters with a much stronger adhesive.  

 

A recent study showed that after just one hour of eyelash extensions being applied, 59% of participants experience foreign body sensations, which can cause Dry Eye Syndrome.[7]

 

A scientific study from the Journal of the Royal Society Interface stated that normal eyelash length shouldn’t exceed two-thirds of the eye’s width with the optimal length being one-third, meaning if your eyelashes are too long you cannot blink completely.[8] This means air can enter the eyes more easily causing dehydration and stopping you from lubricating your eyes efficiently by not blinking. Dehydration of the eye surface is one of the major causes of Dry Eye Disease.  

 

However, it’s not just the length and addition to the eye that causes the symptoms of dry eye. The adhesive of eyelash extensions is also a problem. The glue is placed close to the meibomian gland at the root of the lashes which risks damage to the glands that play a vital role in tear production. Without sufficient quality and quantity of tears, you can start to suffer from Dry Eye Disease.[9] 

 

The strong adhesive for eyelash extensions can include toxic components too, causing allergic reactions and irritation.[10] 

 

A close up image of a woman's eyes with eyelash extensions

 

How to avoid dry eye symptoms and wear eyelash extensions

One of the most important steps to take if you still want eyelash extensions is to get serious about tackling and treating your Dry Eye.  

 

Take a look at the eyedrops available on VISUShop that can help repair the eye surface and soothe symptoms here.  

 

If you do want to go ahead with eyelash extension application: 

  • Ensure your aesthetician is fully certified and following safe and hygienic practices.  
  • Make sure to keep up with proper maintenance and cleanliness.  
  • Finally consider getting shorter and less full extensions.  

 

Another option is to use temporary strip false eyelashes to get your desired look occasionally. Remove them if you experience irritation and ensure if you’re reusing them that you’re cleaning them properly to avoid bacteria build up.  

You can even find magnetic eyelash extensions as opposed to traditional false eyelashes. This means you’ll avoid using glue which can be harmful to your eye health.[11] 

 

Makeup and Dry Eye Disease

Another alternative to eyelash extensions is mascara. Since you can properly remove mascara after each use, and it only coats your natural lashes (instead of adding extra irritation and bulk to the root of the eyelash) they’re less likely to cause symptoms of Dry Eye Disease. However, mascara can still irritate so opt for regular mascara rather than two-step mascara which may flake and fall into the eyes.[12]

If you’d like to find more tips for dry eyes and makeup, take a look at this blog on the subject.  

 

A woman applies mascara to her eyelashes in front of a mirror

 

It is possible to wear false eyelashes and get eyelash extensions when you suffer from Dry Eye Disease as long as you’re following best practices. However, if you’d like to treat and soothe your dry eyes, we advise that natural is always the best option.  

 

For more information about Dry Eye Disease and your dry eyes, follow us on social media @dryeyeandme and explore the rest of our blogs.  

 

References

  1. Dry Eye Zone, ‘The Truth About Eyelash Extensions: Risks, Side Effects, and Safer Alternatives’, 04/04/2024, Last Accessed August 2024
  2. Dolvlashes, ‘Complete Statistics on Eyelash Trends for Lash Artists’, Last Accessed August 2024
  3. Dry Eye and Me, ‘Dry Eye Symptoms’, Last Accessed August 2024
  4. Lazarus, Russel, ‘Why Do Dry Eyes Affect Women More Than Men?’, 13/12/2020, Last Accessed August 2024
  5. O’Keefe Osborn, Corinne, ‘What’s the Link Between Dry Eye and Menopause?’, 04/04/2024, Last Accessed August 2024
  6. Dry Eye and Me, ‘Dry Eye Syndrome’, Last Accessed August 2024
  7. Han, Jiaxin et al, ‘The Effects of Eyelash extensions on the Ocular Surface’, 21/03/2024, Last Accessed August 2024
  8. J, Amador, Guillermo et al, ‘Eyelashes Divert Airflow to Protect the Eye’, 06/04/2025, Last Accessed August 2024
  9. My Dry Eye Disease, ‘False Eyelashes and Dry Eye’, 05/04/2022, Last Accessed August 2024
  10. Nguyen, Diana, ‘Can Fake Eyelashes Cause Dry Eye?’, 12/09/2022, Last Accessed August 2024
  11. Yang, Lily, ‘Stop Eyelash Extensions if you Have Dry Eyes’, 22/04/2021, Last Accessed August 2024
  12. Seltman, Whitney, ‘Makeup Tips for Dry Eye’, 08/11/2022, Last Accessed August 2024
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