When you're exhausted (or even a bit intoxicated), wiping off your makeup is probably the last thing on your mind. Of course, we all know that leaving your primer, foundation, concealer, and other products on overnight is terrible for your skin's health. Makeup clogs pore while also ruining your linens. But if you still need convincing that sleeping with your face on is a bad idea, consider the story of Theresa Lynch.

According to a recent American Academy of Ophthalmology article, the 50-year-old cleaner from Sydney, Australia, neglected to remove her mascara for 25 years properly. Doctors detected concretions beneath her eyelids after she sought help, causing severe discomfort and drainage. The microscopic lesions, which contained cell debris and calcium accumulation, eroded through her conjunctival surface and could have permanently blinded her.

Lynch and her ophthalmic surgeon, Dana Robaei, decided to publicize horrible photographs of her diseased eye to raise awareness (and make you reconsider your bedtime routine).


"These bumps were showing on the surface of the eye every time Theresa blinked, and they pose a risk to her vision," Dr Robaei told the Daily Mail. "If the scratch on the eye's surface became infected, there is a risk of blindness, but this is extremely unlikely." And, even though Dr Robaei could remove the lumps in a 90-minute treatment, Lynch is still not out of the woods. "It was certainly disabling," remarked the doctor. "She has permanent scarring on her upper eyelid and the surface of her cornea." The sensations are like having a handful of sand thrown in your eye - always unpleasant."

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According to optometrist Kambiz Silani, OD, placing eye makeup on your waterline increases your risk of developing severe eye disorders; therefore, avoid that delicate area as much as possible. If you need a refresher, esthetician Renée Rouleau once demonstrated the most effective way to clean your lashes: Saturate a thin cotton pad or toning cloth with your makeup remover (preferably oil-free, as Rouleau and Dr Silani recommend) and gently press down on the eye for 20 seconds.


You won't have to massage because this melts and dissolves your eye makeup; swipe down to remove everything, then rotate the pad and go upward to get underneath your lashes. Yes, it will cost you precious minutes of beauty sleep, but it preserves your vision.