If you are working on the computer for long hours, you would have come across a feeling of burning and irritation in the eyes. This is called Dry Eye Syndrome. Previously, it was thought to be common in the people who are aging as it causes reduced tear production, people who constantly use a computer, and people with certain illnesses. But, nowadays, the incidences of Dry Eye Syndrome is also increasing in women who use eye makeup. The present fashion trend is to tight-line the eyes. Tight-lining means applying the eyeliner on the waterline of the eyelids, particularly the upper ones. This subtly defines the eyes and also gives an appearance of thick eyelashes. Using a mascara would make your eyelashes look thicker and eyes bigger. But, using an inappropriate eye makeup product would cause the makeup particles to move from the waterline into the eyes resulting in eye irritation, redness, watering, and blurred vision. These makeup particles could also block the meibomian glands leading to dry eyes and chalazion (tumor-like cysts on the eyelid). Thus, looking beautiful may come with a price.
Let us see how the use of eye make-up causes dry eyes.
Our eyes need protection from the dust, germs, and irritants present in the atmosphere. This is done by a tear film. It also provides lubrication so that the lids can easily move over the eyes. This tear film has 3 parts-
- Innermost mucin layer secreted by the cornea (a transparent layer in front of the eye) which remains in contact with the eye.
- The thick middle layer made up of tears secreted by the tear glands.
- The outermost layer is an oily layer secreted by the meibomian glands present along the rims of the upper and lower eyelids. It covers the watery tear layer and slows down its evaporation.
When we apply eye make-up on the waterline, these products clog the opening of the meibomian glands preventing the oil from coming to the surface. This leads to rapid evaporation of the tear layer causing a feeling of dryness, burning, and irritation in the eyes.
We treat patients from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, UAE & 180 more countries. Get an expert opinion on your ailment, click here to ask Dr. Shah’s team directly.
Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome:
Here are some symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome.
- Irritation in the eyes
- Burning in the eyes
- Redness
- Foreign body sensation in the eyes
- Watering from the eyes
- Sensitivity to the light
- Eye fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Problem with wearing contact lenses
How Do I Know That My Eyes are Dry Because of the Make–up?
Dry eyes do not happen overnight. It is a gradual process.
When you use a waterproof eyeliner or mascara, it can temporarily clog the opening of the meibomian gland and cause the symptoms of dry eyes. When you remove the product, the symptoms are relieved.
So, you need to check if this sensation of burning and dryness is associated with the use of your eye make-up. You also need to test all the eye make-up products you have as this might not happen with all the eye makeup products.
If you can relate the dryness to an eye make-up product, stop using that product. If the dry eyes persist despite stopping all the eye cosmetics, you would need to get yourself checked by an eye doctor
What Are the Other Conditions That Could Cause Dry Eyes?
Dry eyes can result due to:
- Low quality of tears
- Low production of tears
It is observed in conditions such as –
- Aging, since the tear production reduces as the person ages
- Staring and infrequent blinking while using the computer.
- Hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy, lactation, while taking the OC pills, and menopause
- Sitting in an ac room, airy room.
- Laser eye surgery and radiation to the eyes could damage the tear gland.
- Obstruction to the flow of tears: blockage of tear gland.
- Certain medications like antihistamines, anti-acne medicines, hormonal pills, and certain BP medications.
- Certain autoimmune conditions, such as Sjogren’s syndrome, Scleroderma, underactive Thyroid, Rheumatoid arthritis, Diabetes, etc.
- Blepharitis, Rosacea, etc.
How to Prevent the Dry Eyes Resulting Due to Wearing Makeup?
Here are some helpful tips to prevent the development of dry eyes due to make-up.
- Choose appropriate products for the eyes. Not all eyeliners could be used on the waterline. The products should clearly mention as for use on the waterline. Avoid using liquid liners or glitter on the waterline.
- Always wear hypoallergenic eye make-up products.
- Do not tight-line the eyes often and for longer periods. Apply the liner on the outside of the waterline or, sometimes, you can also go makeup-free.
- Do not apply mascara to the base of the eyelashes. Coat only the top half so that it does not clog the meibomian glands.
- Make sure that you remove the eye make-up with an appropriate eye make-up remover. To remove the waterproof make-up, you would need special bi-phasic make-up remover.
Living with Dry Eye Syndrome:
If you have dry eyes, it is important to identify the underlying cause and treat it, besides using the medications as prescribed by your doctor.
Here are some helpful tips to manage your dry eyes.
- Blink your eyes often.
- Follow the 20-20 rule for dry eyes. Eye specialists often suggest this exercise. After every 20 minutes, stop looking at your computer screen and focus at a distance for 20 seconds. This relaxes the eye muscles.
- Warm compresses to unclog the meibomian glands:Â Take a soft clean towel, dip it in the warm water, and hold it to your eye for some time. This will help to unclog the meibomian glands
- Use glasses instead of contact lenses: Using contact lenses with dry eyes could further irritate your eyes.
- Use eyeglasses and sunglasses that are curved/closed on the sides. This will protect the eyes from the air when driving.
- Limit the use of eye make-up.
- Stop smoking
- Include food abundant in omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. The food sources are flax seeds, walnuts, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, fish like Sardines, Mackerel, Salmon, etc.
- Include foods abundant in vitamin A, such as carrots, papaya, spinach, bell peppers, cantaloupes, and pumpkin, in your diet.
I hope this article helps you to deal with your Dry Eye Syndrome. You may share your tips below.
lipitor order online order lipitor 40mg pills buy lipitor 20mg online cheap
proscar usa forcan online buy buy forcan pills for sale
buy cipro 1000mg without prescription – buy septra generic purchase augmentin pill
buy flagyl 200mg generic – oxytetracycline 250mg cost azithromycin 500mg us
how to buy ciplox – order erythromycin pills order erythromycin 250mg for sale
order valtrex generic – valtrex order zovirax 400mg pills
ivermectin 3mg pills – order aczone for sale tetracycline for sale online
buy ampicillin online cheap purchase ampicillin buy amoxicillin pill
buy lasix 40mg pill – prazosin 2mg cheap capoten sale
how to buy glycomet – buy combivir generic cheap lincocin 500mg
retrovir buy online – lamivudine pill order zyloprim 100mg online cheap
order clozaril generic – how to buy frumil pepcid online order
seroquel 100mg drug – order generic desyrel 100mg eskalith price
buy anafranil without a prescription – buy imipramine online order sinequan 75mg online
cost atarax – order buspirone 10mg generic amitriptyline online
amoxil where to buy – buy cefadroxil purchase cipro generic
order amoxiclav pills – ampicillin us ciprofloxacin tablet
cleocin 150mg ca – oxytetracycline tablet buy generic chloromycetin
purchase azithromycin generic – generic metronidazole buy ciplox generic
ivermectin order – ivermectin 3 mg tablets buy cefaclor for sale
order albuterol inhalator online – cost ventolin 2mg theophylline 400mg tablet
desloratadine oral – desloratadine 5mg uk ventolin inhalator cheap
buy medrol canada – buy fluorometholone online azelastine 10ml drug
cost glyburide – order pioglitazone 30mg without prescription dapagliflozin brand
buy generic prandin online – pill repaglinide 1mg empagliflozin us
where can i buy terbinafine – griseofulvin generic griseofulvin
buy generic rybelsus – buy glucovance generic buy desmopressin no prescription
buy ketoconazole 200mg online cheap – buy butenafine itraconazole 100 mg for sale
famciclovir brand – buy acyclovir cheap valcivir pills
order lanoxin online – order dipyridamole furosemide 40mg cost
hydrochlorothiazide us – zebeta pill cheap bisoprolol 5mg
cost lopressor 50mg – how to get hyzaar without a prescription adalat 10mg canada
order nitroglycerin online – how to buy diovan buy diovan 160mg
crestor online paint – pravastatin online social caduet online survive
zocor reserve – gemfibrozil build atorvastatin anxious
viagra professional nurse – buy cialis professional empty levitra oral jelly online tuck
priligy mine – priligy afford cialis with dapoxetine clean
cenforce online change – brand viagra traffic brand viagra nightmare
brand cialis stuff – zhewitra defeat penisole content
cialis soft tabs lantern – viagra oral jelly law viagra oral jelly online proceed
brand cialis shoe – tadora filch penisole none
cialis soft tabs bed – cialis soft tabs online woman viagra oral jelly eastern
cenforce entire – brand viagra online hotel
priligy cock – levitra with dapoxetine six cialis with dapoxetine insult
acne medication propose – acne medication exercise acne medication immediate
asthma medication outline – inhalers for asthma probable inhalers for asthma regret
treatment for uti powerful – treatment for uti chain treatment for uti win
prostatitis treatment consciousness – pills for treat prostatitis shoot pills for treat prostatitis delay
valacyclovir pills strong – valtrex online shake valtrex online french
claritin ship – claritin band claritin pills rattle
claritin pills keen – claritin track loratadine subject
promethazine camera – promethazine sign promethazine rock
ascorbic acid howl – ascorbic acid sufficient ascorbic acid breathless
biaxin pills footstep – zantac player cytotec pose
fludrocortisone pills sensation – protonix pills hiss lansoprazole pills wobbler
bisacodyl 5mg pills – buy imodium without prescription liv52 over the counter
buy aciphex without a prescription – metoclopramide pill buy motilium 10mg pill
order bactrim 480mg online – tobra for sale online buy tobra medication
buy zovirax generic – order dydrogesterone generic buy dydrogesterone 10mg
dapagliflozin 10 mg cheap – brand dapagliflozin precose ca
purchase enalapril generic – buy enalapril 10mg sale latanoprost online
dimenhydrinate 50mg canada – order dimenhydrinate 50mg generic actonel 35mg for sale
buy generic etodolac 600 mg – cilostazol drug order pletal online
purchase piroxicam online cheap – order rivastigmine 3mg for sale order exelon sale
order nootropil 800 mg generic – buy sustiva 10mg online order sinemet 20mg online
order hydrea generic – order methocarbamol 500mg buy methocarbamol 500mg
brand divalproex 500mg – buy divalproex without prescription topamax 200mg cheap
order generic disopyramide phosphate – norpace tablets order thorazine generic
purchase cytoxan generic – buy cheap zerit order generic trimetazidine
brand aldactone 100mg – buy carbamazepine cheap buy generic revia 50 mg
order cyclobenzaprine 15mg generic – vasotec 10mg us order vasotec online
cheap ondansetron 8mg – detrol over the counter requip 1mg for sale
buy generic ascorbic acid for sale – lopinavir ritonavir tablet order compro generic
order durex gel sale – buy durex gel latanoprost buy online
where to buy minoxidil without a prescription – cheap finpecia for sale proscar price
buy leflunomide 20mg online cheap – arava 20mg cheap cartidin pills
purchase tenormin pill – pill betapace 40mg oral carvedilol 6.25mg
atorlip usa – buy atorlip generic order nebivolol 20mg sale
cheap gasex – generic gasex generic diabecon