How eyeliner affects tear composition, tear secretion, and tear film stability

The Effect of Eyeliner on Tear Composition, Tear Secretion and Tear Film Stability：a Prospective Cohort Study.

This test checks whether wearing eyeliner changes tear composition, tear secretion, and tear film stability in adults aged 20–35 who either regularly use eyeliner or do not use it.

Quick facts

• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 80 (estimated)
• Ages: 20 Years to 35 Years
• Sex: Female
• Sponsor: Zhongnan Hospital (other)
• Drugs / interventions: radiation
• Locations: 1 site (Wuhan, Hubei)
• Trial ID: NCT05632887 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study compares adults who regularly wear eyeliner with those who do not to look for differences in ocular surface characteristics. Participants complete the Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire and undergo tear secretion testing, sodium fluorescein staining, intraocular pressure measurement, and clinical dry-eye analysis. Tears are collected by capillary tube and stored for Raman spectroscopy to identify compositional differences. Clinical and biochemical measures will be compared between the eyeliner and control groups to explore links between eyeliner use and tear film instability.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 20–35 living in Wuhan who either have used eyeliner for at least one year at a frequency of ≥3 times per week or who do not use eyeliner, and who have no major systemic or ocular diseases, are not pregnant or lactating, and meet the other listed eligibility criteria.

Not a fit: People with systemic autoimmune diseases, prior eye surgery or trauma, pregnant or lactating women, heavy electronic device users (>4 hours/day), those with circadian rhythm disorders, radiation exposure history, or non-permanent residents of Wuhan are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If a link is confirmed, the study could identify eyeliner use as a modifiable risk factor for dry eye and inform guidance to reduce symptoms.

How similar studies have performed: Some prior research has linked eye cosmetics to ocular surface irritation, but applying Raman spectroscopy to detect eyeliner-related changes in tear composition is largely novel and unproven.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* People aged 20-35 who use eyeliner or do not use eyeliner .
* People who use eyeliner have used it for ≥ 1 year; Frequency ≥ 3 times/week.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Other serious systemic diseases.
* Other systemic diseases related to ocular surface, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome and other immune system diseases or other eye diseases, history of eye surgery and trauma.
* Lactating women or pregnant women.
* Use electronic products for more than 4 hours every day.
* Patients with circadian rhythm disorder.
* People with radiation exposure history.
* Non permanent residents in Wuhan.

Where this trial is running

Wuhan, Hubei

• Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University — Wuhan, Hubei, China (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Min Ke

Conditions: Dry Eye