RESUMO
Introduction Eyelash extensions have become a trendy cosmetic procedure, especially among young female students at various universities. This study assessed the relationship between the usage pattern of eyelash extensions and the ocular side effects arising from eyelash extension use. Methods The study was conducted using 400 female undergraduate students at the University of Benin with an age range of 15-30 years and a mean age of 22.50 ± 3.79 years. This observational cross-sectional study was conducted by evaluating the usage pattern of eyelash extensions, ocular side effects, and the relationship between them. Data obtained from the participants were processed using the Pearson correlation analysis in the Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) (version 22.0; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY) software. Results The results showed that only 16% (n=64) of the participants had any side effects before fixing eyelash extensions, while 54% (n=216) of the participants had experienced one or more side effects during/after artificial eyelash wear. The most common side effects experienced were itching (n=152, 38%), lashes pulling out (n=144, 36%), heavy eyelids (n=136, 34%), and red eyes (n=136, 34%). Other ocular side effects were grittiness/foreign body sensation (n=128, 32%), tearing (n=96, 24%), burning sensation (n=96, 24%), pain on the eyelids (n=88, 22%), misdirected lashes (n=40,10%), eyelids swelling (n=24, 6%), a boil on eyelids (n=16, 4%), and discharge (n=8, 2%). Moreover, the result showed statistically significant correlation between the usage pattern and the ocular side effects such as pain (r=0.22), itching (r=0.23), tearing (r=0.21), burning sensation (r=0.17), a boil on the eyelids (r=0.21), heavy eyelids (r=0.16), misdirected lashes (r=0.22), red eyes (r=0.15), lashes pulling out (r=0.12), eyelids swelling (r=0.18), grittiness (r=0.10), and discharge (r=0.10) (p<0.05). Conclusions It is concluded that there is a relationship between the usage pattern of eyelash extensions and the ocular side effects. Adequate and proper attention should be paid to this ever-growing cosmetic procedure's potential visual health risks.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Hypotensive properties have been attributed to the stigma/style of Zea maysâ L (corn silk). Although the effect of corn silk extract on blood pressure has been documented in animal studies, we are not aware of any study on its effect on human blood pressure and intraocular pressure. METHODS: A randomised study was carried out on the effect of water only, masked doses of corn silk aqueous extract (60, 130, 192.5 and 260 mg/kg body weight) on intraocular pressure and blood pressure of 20 systemic and 20 non-systemic hypertensive subjects. Intraocular pressure and blood pressure were measured at baseline and every hour for eight hours after administering water or a masked dose of corn silk aqueous extract. Each dose was administered at two-week intervals to each subject in the two study groups. RESULTS: The results showed that the last three doses of corn silk aqueous extract gave a statistically significant reduction (p < 0.001) in mean intraocular pressure and blood pressure within eight hours of administration. The peak effect on intraocular pressure was observed after four hours and this was preceded by the peak effect on blood pressure, which occurred after three hours of administration. The hypotensive effect was dose-dependent in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Corn silk aqueous extract has a lowering effect on intraocular pressure in systemic and non-systemic hypertensive subjects. This may have resulted from the fall in blood pressure that is due to potassium-induced natriuresis and diuresis caused by the high potassium content in the high doses of the corn silk extract.
