Tips from the Michigan Optometric Association: Keep an EYE on Makeup

July 13, 2009 - PRLog -- Wearing stilettos, shaving legs and plucking eyebrows are common practices amongst women to maintain “looking good.” However, when it comes to issues that matter – eye health should be a top priority – especially when it comes to applying eye makeup.

While contact lens wearers and people with allergies or sensitive skin are more likely to confront problems while using cosmetics, anyone who wears eye makeup should be aware of eye safety tips to help prevent injury or infection. The Michigan Optometric Association recommends the following tips to ensure eye makeup safety while at the cosmetic counter or at home:

• When using makeup testers in stores, always make sure product samples haven’t been touched by another person, as it can be a common route for infection. If you must test products, make sure the person applying the makeup uses a fresh applicator.
• Eye cosmetics such as mascara, cream face base or eye shadow can harbor bacteria. To ensure eye safety, throw these types of products away three months after purchase.
• Before applying makeup, make sure your face and eyelids are clean. To avoid applying makeup directly on the eye, always apply makeup outside the lash line, away from the eye.
• To avoid eye injury, never apply makeup in a moving vehicle.
• After any eye infection, such as conjunctivitis (pink eye), buy fresh eye makeup to avoid getting the infection again.
• Do not share eye cosmetics with others. If you contaminate your cosmetics with another person's bacteria, you may get an infection.
• Be careful to not get glittery eye makeup into the eye, as this is a common cause of corneal irritation and can cause redness of the eye. If particles get between the contact lens and corneal surface, they can scratch the cornea and may lead to infection.
• At night, remove all eye makeup – especially mascara that stays on the lashes. If you use an eye makeup remover, be careful to not get any in your eye. When you are done, rinse the remover off your eyelids to avoid possible irritation of the eye or lids.

If you think you have an eye infection or an allergic reaction due to eye makeup, contact an optometrist for treatment. For more information or to locate a Michigan Optometric Association doctor nearest you, visit www.themoa.org.

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About the Michigan Optometric Association The mission of the Michigan Optometric Association is to unite all licensed optometrists and be the representative voice for the profession of optometry in Michigan. The association provides education, information and other member services to assist optometrists in practicing successfully in accordance with the highest standards of patient care; works to advance the quality and accessibility of optometric services throughout the state and seeks to ensure the recognition of optometrists as the primary providers of vision and related eye health care.