ATLANTA – Longer eyelashes may be attractive, but not the most useful.
Georgia Institute of Technology researchers have discovered having eyelashes that are one-third the width of the eye offer the best protection.
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"Eyelashes form a barrier to control airflow and the rate of evaporation on the surface of the cornea," said Guillermo Amador, a Georgia Tech Ph.D. candidate who authored the study. "When eyelashes are shorter than the one-third ratio, they have only a slight effect on the flow. Their effect is more pronounced as they lengthen up until one-third. After that, they start funneling air and dust particles into the eye."
That means longer lashes actually allow more irritants into the eye.
"This is why long, elegant, fake eyelashes aren't ideal," said Amador. "They may look good, but they're not the best thing for the health of your eyes."
It's not just humans. By measuring preserved animal hides, the team discovered that 22 species of mammals - from hedgehogs to giraffes -- also tend to have eyelash lengths that are one-third the width of their eye.
The study, "Eyelashes divert airflow to protect the eye," is currently published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface.
To learn more about the research, click here.