Summer is the season of all dangers for the eyes. Dryness, pollen allergies, excessive air conditioning and fans, glaring sun (for those who were able to go on vacation) … the eyes are put to the test during the summer period, especially for contact lens wearers. On TikTok, a New York optometrist, Dr. Jennifer Tsai, revealed the five things not to do, at the risk of developing eye problems, including a potentially dangerous infection.
1/ Wear false eyelashes
This trend from the United States is becoming more popular in France, especially among young girls, but it is not without risks. “I have seen so many problems with false eyelashes, from lash loss to styes to infections,” warns the eye health specialist. Indeed, several external elements, invisible to the naked eye, can get stuck and accumulate in false eyelashes such as sebum and perspiration, makeup, dust or even dead skin. What’s more, certain products such as oil, salt and chlorine can damage the glue of the extensions. All ideal conditions for the development of bacteria. This is why, if you absolutely want to wear false eyelashes, clean them regularly with appropriate products.
2/ Wash your face in one go
Double cleansing, which involves washing your face with an oil-based cleanser and then a water-based cleanser, is an absolutely necessary routine, according to Tsai. Skipping it can lead to clogged oil glands, “which can lead to problems like dry eye syndrome,” she warns. Double cleansing of the skin is regularly advocated by specialists according to which this technique would allow the skin to breathe better and therefore skincare products to penetrate it more easily. It also guarantees to eliminate much more effectively the dirt and grime accumulated on the face during the day.
3/ Succumb to the trend of under-eye injections
While more and more people around the world are resorting to injections to plump up certain areas of their face, the eye area is a no-go, recommends Jennifer Tsai. “It’s not an ideal place to do it because typically you’ll see migration happening, and it’s very transparent in that area because the tissue is so thin, so it’s pretty obvious when it’s done,” she explains. The side effect that is regularly found in people who receive too much hyaluronic acid or too regularly is the appearance of swelling or localized edema at the injected dark circle. In general, hyaluronic acid injections require great mastery of anatomy and in particular the location of blood vessels. On the face, certain locations are dangerous. At the dark circle level, a poorly controlled injection can lead to blindness due to embolism of the angular artery. If the trend of injections is more popular in the United States, where Tsai works, than in France, the latter is not left behind. In 2022, injectable products represented 196 million in turnover in France.
4/ Wear monthly contact lenses
If you don’t wear daily lenses but monthlies, there’s a good chance you’ll get your schedule mixed up and end up forgetting to change them on time. “Which can lead to a multitude of problems.”recalls Tsai. These include dry eye syndrome or, much more serious, corneal abrasions, corneal ulcers or damage to corneal stem cells. Unfortunately, in France, daily lenses are much more expensive than biweekly or monthly ones and are not always well covered.
5/ Swimming with your lenses
Swimming in a lake, pool or even a hot tub while wearing contact lenses can “can cause acanthamoeba, a fairly serious infection that causes vision loss around the eyes”explains Dr. Tsai. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), acanthamoeba are ubiquitous microscopic organisms found in lake water and soil. They can also be found in swimming pools, hot tubs, and sometimes even drinking water. Symptoms of acanthamoeba keratitis include sensitivity to light and excessive tearing, blurred vision with redness and pain, a feeling of having something in the eye, and severe headaches. While there are treatments for this infection, early diagnosis is essential. If you cannot go without your contacts while swimming, to reduce the risk of contamination, be sure to follow your optician’s recommendations for proper care of your contacts as closely as possible.
Source: www.topsante.com
