11/19/2025
Are you suffering from Dry Eyes? Stop suffering and come see me for the best remedies.
The use of eye cosmetics likely occurred as far back as 10,000 BCE. Egyptians and Mesopotamians wore eyeliner of powdered antimony, burnt almonds, black copper oxide, and brown clay ocher to protect the skin from the desert sun. Eye cosmetics were believed to offer some medicinal benefits as well as to protect people from evil spirits, which could enter the body through vulnerable openings, such as the eyes. In addition, they were used to enhance the association of the eyes with youth, beauty, and social power. Now, eye liner is commonly used in a daily make-up routine to define the eye or create the look of a wider or smaller eye. It can be used as a tool to create various looks or to highlight different features of the eyes. However, when a recent study investigated whether eyeliner use is associated with an increase in dry eye symptoms, they found a risk to those cosmetic benefits. (Liu, Y., Shen, Y., Sullivan, A.G. et al. The impact of eyeliner usage on dry eye symptoms.
The researchers conducted a survey to collect data on cosmetic usage and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores from a diverse public sample that included men and women from several countries. Additionally, eyecare professionals were asked about their practice of inquiring about cosmetic use during patient consultations. The survey included specific questions about eyeliner application and the calculation of OSDI scores, with a score of 13 or higher indicating the presence of dry eye symptoms. Individuals who reported using eyeliner had a nearly 10% higher rate of OSDI scores above 13 compared to non-users, and subjects who applied eyeliner to the lid margins had a nearly 50% increase in high OSDI scores. They also found that nearly a quarter of patients were reluctant to discontinue cosmetic use after they were advised to do so by an eye care professional. In spite of the increase in dry eye symptoms, however, only about half of healthcare providers routinely inquired about cosmetic use during patient consultations.
The survey reported that about three-quarters of the general public use eye cosmetics such as liquid liner or pencil, and eyeliner tattoos. Nearly 43% of eyeliner users reported experiencing dry eye symptoms, which is significantly higher than the approximately 33% among non-eyeliner users. Previous studies have shown that some pigmented cosmetic products may accumulate within the lacrimal system and conjunctiva over many years of use. Changes to the tear film and its stability may occur shortly after application and can have negative effects on Meibomian gland function, a contributor to dry eye. The researchers also noted that using eyeliner on the inner side of the eyelashes is more likely to cause dry eye symptoms compared to the outer side, and that individuals with eyeliner tattoos exhibited significantly higher OSDI scores. Approximately 5% of participants who use eyeliner also have eyeliner tattoos. The researchers suggest that the combination of temporary eyeliner applications and permanent eyeliner tattoos may exert a synergistic effect, potentially exacerbating the adverse impact on the ocular surface. Because the usage of eyeliner is common and associated with higher OSDI scores, the research underscores the need for both eyecare practitioners and eyeliner users to be more aware of the potential impact of eyeliner on the ocular surface.
