Eye doctors have issued warnings over a bizarre new trend which sees men taking action on their eyelashes in a bid to make them look more 'manly'.
Never, in my 28 years of life, have I looked at a man with long eyelashes and thought 'huh, that man doesn't look very manly'. I'd be inclined to assume that most of the world would agree with me, but a new trend on TikTok suggests I can't speak for the entire planet.
Recently, a number of videos have appeared on the platform which feature stories or videos of men trimming their eyelashes using scissors or electric razors. Some men appear to be taking their lashes right down to the eyelid, with one barber on TikTok claiming the action was intended to make men look 'more manly'.
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Celebrity barber and TikToker @truththebarberartist_ shared one such clip online, alongside a caption which reads: "Some might say this is fake, but in all honesty, it’s 100% true.
"I personally witnessed a walk-in client who asked a barber to shave off his eyelashes. He said he didn’t like how long they were and that his wife criticized them for looking too feminine. He was even willing to pay extra.
"But my question to all barbers out there is: Is this service really feasible? Should it be allowed in barbershops? Would you do it if a client asked? And the million dollar question: Is it more manly to shave off your eyelashes?"
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The video sparked mixed responses, with some viewers saying they needed to see the end result while others branded the trend as 'dumb'. But no matter what your opinion on how they look, we can't ignore the fact that doctors have warned against trimmed eyelashes.
Speaking to the Huffington Post about the trend, ophthalmologist Dr. Ashley Hayden said: “Trimming your eyelashes is not at all recommended."
The doctor continued: "Primarily, it’s not wise to get sharp objects, like scissors, close to your eye. It is hazardous and very easy to damage the delicate surface of your eye, the cornea.”
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Not only could trimming your eyelashes put your eyeballs at risk, but it also removes the body's natural 'barrier' to your eyes.
Dr. Victoria Williams, an oculoplastic surgeon and neuro-ophthalmologist and the owner of Williams Eye Speciality Clinic, told HuffPost: "Eyelashes are meant to block foreign objects such as dust, debris and splashes in the eye. It blocks germs and bacteria from getting in your eye and prevents eye infections.”
As well as helping protect from dust, eyelashes contribute to tear film - a thin layer of fluid that covers the eye and protects it from irritants. When that film is irritated, it could lead to dry eyes or tearing.
Eyelashes also work to detect objects that might be about to hit the eye, causing us to blink.
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Dr. Thomas Stokkermans, senior medical reviewer at All About Vision, explained: "The eyelashes sense an object as it is about to hit the eye’s surface, triggering a blink reflex. Trimmed eyelashes will give the eyes less time to close, making you more likely to have a corneal abrasion or another eye injury.”
But if the risks of injuries weren't enough to convince you, then it's worth bearing in mind that eyelashes also protect our eyes from harmful light rays emitted from the sun, and make us less sensitive to bright light.
So I guess the question is, would you rather have long eyelashes, or risk getting dust, bacteria, fingers and blinding lights in your eyes? It seems like a pretty straightforward answer to me!
Emily Brown