Double Eyelid Tape Wear Affects Anterior Ocular Health among Young Adult Women with Single Eyelids

Abstract

Many East Asians apply double eyelid tape to create the double eyelid effect temporarily as a means of increasing their beauty. This study evaluated the effects of four-week wear of double eyelid tape on anterior ocular health in young adult women with single eyelids. Twenty-nine participants who met the inclusion criteria were recruited. The participants' anterior ocular health was examined including blinking characteristics (blink pattern and blink rate), ocular surface health (presence of corneal abrasion, corneal staining, conjunctival staining, corneal curvatures, meibomian gland dysfunction), tear break up time, intraocular pressure, and subjective comfort level. Participants were required to apply the double eyelid tape for at least eight hours a day and five days a week for four weeks. The parameters were re-measured at the end of each week. There was a significant increase in conjunctival staining, corneal staining, and meibomian gland dysfunction, with a significant reduction in tear break-up time and intraocular pressure. By week 3, all participants had incomplete blinks. There was no significant change in symptoms and subjective comfort level reported. Therefore, patients and eye care practitioners should be aware of the potential implications of double eyelid tape wear on ocular health, with no significant change in subjective comfort.

Keywords: anterior ocular health; comfort level; double eyelid tape; single eyelids.

Figure 1

A set of double eyelid tape and the y-shaped application tool (Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Qingdao, China).

Figure 2

(a) Blink pattern (completeness of blink) and (b) mean blink rate (number of blinks per minute) from Week 0 (before eyelid tape wear) to Week 4. Error bars represent ±1 standard deviatiom (SD).

Figure 3

Mean of corneal staining grade (open circles) and mean of conjunctival staining grade (closed circles) from Week 0 (before eyelid tape wear) to Week 4. Error bars represent ±1 SD.

Figure 4

Meibomian gland dysfunction grade (open circles) from Week 0 (before double eyelid tape wear) to Week 4. Error bars represent ±1 SD.

Figure 5

Mean of tear break-up time (TBUT) measured in seconds from Week 0 (before eyelid tape wear) to Week 4. Error bars represent ±1 SD.

Figure 6

Mean intraocular pressure (IOP) from Week 0 (before eyelid tape wear) to Week 4. Error bars represent ±1 SD.