Eyeliner too Close to the Lash line may Contaminate Contact Lenses

Contact lenses and eye makeup go hand in hand. Without wearing proper eye makeup contact lenses fail to create a harmonized effect especially if they are colored & dramatically patterned. However, one needs to be very careful about applying makeup when wearing contact lenses. A recent study suggested that eyeliner when worn too close to the lash line contaminates contact lenses & induces infections.

Bacterial Transmission to Contact Lenses

Since makeup accessories such as mascara and eyeliner may become seeded with bacteria, be very careful about replacing these wands. These wands when touch lash line and tear ducts deposit and transmit the bacteria to the eyes which then travel further to get into the tear film. The tear film once contaminated directly facilitates bacteria transmission to the contact lenses that are floating over the iris.

According to the study made, it was observed that eyeliner when applied inside of the lash line brought more results of bacterial contamination than the eye liner applied on the outside of the lash line. It has been suggested that when eye liner is applied over the tear duct or inside the lash line the glands get blocked which creates an annoying or itching sensation. The makeup pigments & waxes may bind to contact lenses that may cause problems for people with sensitive eyes and dry eyes syndrome. Dry eyes have fewer tears to dilute the makeup particles this is why a burning or itching sensation is felt whenever an external agent gets into the eyes.

Always apply eye liner over the eye lid to reduce the risk of complications, said Alison Ng a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Waterloo in Canada who led the study. When wearing contact lenses, apart from applying eye liner carefully, using Stella collagen eye lash glue that acts as a protein supplement is also recommended by our contact lens experts.

Ref: Fox News

Cosmetics & Contact Lenses: A Kinky Yet Formidable Relationship

Although contact lenses when inserted before applying makeup can reduce the contamination risks, care should be taken whilst using cosmetics along with circle lenses. People having sensitive eyes are more prone to develop eye infections due to contamination of makeup buildup over the surface of contact lenses which later transfer itself to the cornea, causing corneal abrasion.

Though cosmetics contain preservatives to stop the growth of bacteria, they do contain irritants which can be harmful for the eyes. It has been reported that some women with sensitive eyes develop frequent conjunctivitis due to mishandling their cosmetics or because of a contaminated applicator.

Also Read : Makeup & Circle Lenses 

Circle lenses & makeup application go hand in hand. Makeup cannot be avoided when wearing circle lenses as circle lenses without makeup, may look too fake to look attractive. To keep your eyes protected always use hypoallergenic cosmetics or those with little to no fragrances as some people’s eyes show adverse effects against fragrances.

8 Safety Tips with Makeup & Circle Lenses

1. Do not use cosmetics beyond their expiry date
2. Do not use old mascara applicator with the new product. It might have been contaminated
3. Apply eye liner away from the lash line
4. Keep your eye pencils sharp and use soft pencils so that the wood does not scratch
5. Avoid using lash-fiber mascaras when wearing circle lenses
6. Never apply eye makeup or insert/takeoff your circle lenses when in a moving vehicle. You can accidentally poke your eyes.
7. Avoid using eye shadows with metallic-sheen, glitters or mineral cosmetics. They can flake off, or get into eyes that contaminate circle lenses & may induce irritation- eye infections.
8. Do not wear eye makeup during contact lens fitting exam.

Circle lenses are meant to boost up your self-confidence whereas makeup application is to enhance your personality. Care should be taken in order to stay prevented from mishaps; you only have one set of eyes.