A tragic incident involving a 26-year-old American woman who had to undergo eye removal surgery after using fake eyelashes has come to light.
According to reports from the British daily The Sun and other media outlets on Wednesday, Kaitlyn Humphrey, a 26-year-old resident of the U.S., accidentally got eyelash glue in her left eye in July last year while applying fake eyelashes. Feeling a burning sensation, she immediately rinsed her eyes as instructed on the product’s packaging.
Kaitlyn said that when the glue first entered her eye, it felt as though it was burning like a severe burn.
However, after several days of persistent symptoms, Kaitlyn sought medical attention. The doctor diagnosed her with an allergic reaction to the eyelash adhesive and prescribed antibiotics.
Despite this, Kaitlyn continued to experience symptoms and underwent various tests over the following eight months, but doctors found no specific issues.
In March, her condition suddenly worsened. Kaitlyn reported feeling pressure in her eye, blurred vision, redness, and even bleeding from her left eye.
By August, her vision had nearly disappeared. Upon returning to the hospital, she was diagnosed with an infection that had almost melted her cornea.
Kaitlyn underwent a corneal transplant, but during the procedure, she experienced a rejection reaction, and doctors discovered a coin-sized mass on her optic nerve.
Doctors proposed an eye transplant, but due to her earlier rejection experience, Kaitlyn opted for eye removal surgery instead. After four hours, her eye was removed and replaced with a spherical artificial eye.
Eyelash glue is known to cause various side effects.
According to the Korea Consumer Agency, an investigation of 21 eyelash glue products sold on the market found that 19 contained methyl methacrylate, a substance banned in Korea.
Six products contained toluene, a restricted substance, at levels 4 to 10 times the permitted limit.
Methyl methacrylate can cause irritation, redness, pain, itching, and allergic reactions, while toluene can lead to dry eyes, redness, and pain.
If glue gets into the eyes, they should be rinsed with lukewarm saline for at least 10 minutes. Afterward, it is necessary to visit an emergency room to remove the glue adhered to the cornea and monitor the condition.
At this time, the eyes should not be touched. Forcibly opening or rubbing the eyes can cause eyelashes to fall out, move the glue to the cornea, and increase the risk of detachment or infection.
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