Any beauty procedure involving the eyes is always delicate, therefore, it is important that you put yourself in good hands when scheduling a treatment. Case in point: Megan Rixson, 20, made an appointment for eyelash extensions at a salon in Luton, Bedfordshire. During the application, she suffered burning around her eyes, which left her unable to see for two hours after the application ended.
"When she was doing the first one my eyes were stinging lots," Rixson told Buzzfeed News, "But she said, don't worry, it's normal, and told me to hold my eye open. It was burning so much my eyes were naturally closing, but she kept telling me to hold them open. After she was done, I sat up on the bed and couldn't open them. I said, this isn't normal, but she kept saying it was."
After leaving the salon, Rixson, a student, tweeted a video of her eyes, writing, "This one is, like, on fire, but this one won't open as much, like this is as far as I can open them and this is, like, more closed. I'm not crying because I'm sad, I'm crying because, like, my eyes are continuously watering. Um, but, everything is very blurry, like very blurry."
Girls be very very careful where you get your eyelashes done!!I got my individuals done today somewhere new and it turns out they used nail glue on my lashes. I genuinely lost my sight for 2 hours. Thankfully the swelling has gone down, but there still very sore. Be careful😭 pic.twitter.com/NmsFr9QSbk
— Megan Rixson (@MeganRixson) October 19, 2018
She then added a warning. "Girls be very very careful where you get your eyelashes done!! I got my individuals done today somewhere new and it turns out they used nail glue on my lashes. I genuinely lost my sight for 2 hours. Thankfully the swelling has gone down, but they're still very sore. Be careful😭."
Later that same day, Rixson went back to the salon to ask for an explanation. Her boyfriend, who was with her, asked what type of glue they used. The woman at the salon answered that it was the same one used on nails. Rixson later said her eyes were "recovering well" but are "sensitive and sore."
Fortunately, Rixson didn’t suffer long-term damage, but her experience taught her a lesson. Your eyes are highly sensitive and should be treated with the utmost care. Make sure you research the salon where you’ll be having the procedure done, ask what products will be used and ask for a patch test to ensure you don’t have a reaction to the glue.
Top and bottom #eyelashextensions Now the age doesn't matter, for women after 45! Naturally heighten your eyes pic.twitter.com/Y8cbt86UfZ
— Nerio Camargo (@neriocamargo) August 3, 2016
According to Rebecca J. Taylor, MD, an ophthalmologist and clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, eyelash extensions, which are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration, should be applied by a trained aesthetician in a sanitary setting, with nontoxic chemicals that are safe for use on skin. If incorrectly applied, the procedure can result in trauma to or infection of the eyelid or cornea, an allergic reaction to the glue, and permanent or temporary loss of eyelashes. Also, an infection can arise from poor hygiene in the salon or damage to the eye during the application.
RELATED: According To Experts, Eyelash Extensions May Do More Harm Than Good
There are several ingredients in the glue that can cause allergic reactions, such as formaldehyde. Allergic reactions can induce pain, itching, redness and swelling, as well as temporarily affect your vision. Rubbing or pulling can splinter your natural lashes or cause permanent damage to the eyelash follicle. Also, eyelash extensions can result in fibers getting embedded under the eye tissue, which may necessitate surgical removal.
