AIM: To investigate the acute clinical manifestations of cosmetology-related ocular damage(COD).

METHODS:Retrospective study. A total of 53 cases(89 eyes)with ocular damage caused by cosmetology from April 2016 to October 2021 were collected. The clinical features were analyzed, including age, gender, affected eye(s), clinical manifestations, injury cause, treatment procedures, and prognosis.

RESULTS: All 53 patients were female, aged 22-45 years, with an average age of 28.4±6.7 years. Monocular injuries were observed in 17 patients, and binocular injuries in 36 patients. The same eye could exhibit two or more ocular damage simultaneously. The primary cosmetology procedures causing COD were eyeliner tattooing(38 eyes; 43%), eyelash extensions(18 eyes; 20%), removal of false eyelashes(11 eyes; 12%), mascara application(8 eyes; 9%), double eyelid surgery(6 eyes; 7%), and others(8 eyes; 9%). Major ocular damages included corneal damage(56 eyes; 63%), eyelid contact dermatitis(26 eyes; 29%), conjunctivitis(19 eyes; 21%), reactive eyelid edema(13 eyes; 15%), ocular surface foreign bodies(12 eyes; 14%), bacterial infection of the palpebral margin(10 eyes; 11%), and others(5 eyes; 6%). These 5 eyes included 1 eye(1%)with central retinal artery occlusion caused by periocular injection of hyaluronic acid. The majority of patients(74 eyes)recovered within 1-2 wk with appropriate treatment, while filamentosa keratitis appeared in 3 eyes and the eye with central retinal artery occlusion had poor prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS: COD predominantly occurs in young and middle-aged females with cosmetology experience. The most common cosmetology procedure leading to COD is eyeliner tattooing, and corneal damage is the most significant type of COD. COD can be effectively prevented and treated, resulting in a generally favorable prognosis.