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To make double eyelids as seen in the right photo, some teenagers with mono eyelids, as in the left photo, sometimes resort to double eyelids tape or glue. These beauty aids, however, may harm the user's health. |
By Yoon Ja-young
Many teenage girls here might have tried "double eyelid tape" or "double eyelid glue" once or twice. However, these can be harmful if used continuously, doctors warn.
The term double eyelid means to have a crease in the eyelid. Most Caucasians have this naturally so the term may sound strange to them, but the majority of Koreans do not. As people with double eyelids tend to have bigger eyes than those with mono eyelids, "double eyelid surgery" is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures people go through here.
As most parents only allow their daughters to have plastic surgery after their college entrance exam, however, many teens try to make their eyes appear bigger by using tape or glue.
Doing so a few times may be okay, but they may face side effects such as sagging eyelids or eye inflammation if they use such beauty aids continually. The negative effects can linger, causing undesirable results even after double eyelid surgery, according to Seo Il-beom, a plastic surgeon at Grand Plastic Surgery in southern Seoul.
"When you use the glue or tape for a long time, they irritate the thin skin of the eyelid, making the skin sag. In serious cases, the sagging skin will cover the part where there should be the crease of double eyelid," he said. Those with sagging skin will have to go through a more complicated process in double eyelid surgery, having to get rid of muscle or excessive fat after incision.
He also warned about "color" and "circle" lenses that are popular with teenagers. Color lenses are contact lenses that give diverse colors to the wearer's pupils, and circle lenses make the border of the pupils clear. Both are regarded as items that make the wearer's eyes look more beautiful.
However, they are harmful to the eyes. "Unlike ordinary lenses for better vision, these lenses have poor oxygen penetration as the pigments cover the tiny holes on the surface of the lenses. They also irritate eyes as the surface is rough," Seo said. Long-term use of these lenses may lead to inflammation, poorer eyesight or even edema of the cornea, according to the doctor.
If one insists on wearing such lenses, Seo recommends doing so for less than four hours and advises user to carefully clean and maintain the lenses. Wearers should also remove the lenses immediately when they feel pain or irritation.
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