Of eyes, eye checkups, and eyelashes

[afuna]

When I went to the eye doctor for a quick annual checkup, the last thing I expected was to be told that there may be something wrong with my lashes.

I mean, they're... lashes. They sit pretty around the eye, protect it, get the occasional coating of mascara (well, not my lashes, but lashes in general). There's just nothing about them that could go wrong. Apparently, though, lashes should curl outward while mine are pushed down by my eyelids and just sort of stab downwards halfheartedly. It's not too bad right now, but the worry is that if something does happen (please don't let something happen), my lashes won't just go downward; they'll turn inward and scratch my eyes.

The solution to this problem is to have an operation to get a tingsun (double eyelids). This will take care of the excess skin on my lids and let my eyelashes flutter outward and fulfill their full potential (or something).

A few months ago, my mother broached the topic of my undergoing surgery to get a tingsun. See, according to Asian standards of beauty, there's something wrong with my eyelids (and again, what could go wrong with eyelids? See the first part of paragraph 2, but replace "mascara" with "eyeshadow"). Eyelids "should" have that line/double lid thing: mine don't.

At the time, I replied with a noncommittal "meh". But now that it's no longer a purely cosmetic concern, I'm forced to actually think about it.

--
The good part about the eye checkup is that my left eye has finally stabilized (at -6.50), and while my right eye increased slightly (from -8.00 to -9.00), it's definitely a slower increase than before, so there is hope that the prescription for my eyes may actually be heading towards stability. Once my eyes have been stable for a year (and once I save up enough money, which will take more than a year, heh), I may be able to get laser surgery, which I really, really want. I'm sick of blurriness, of having fuzzy peripheral vision, and of worrying about breaking my glasses when I fall asleep with them on.

Comments

[darklyscarlett.livejournal.com]

I don't have creases either -- everyone in my family has them either naturally, or got them eventually with age, but since I'm such a mutt... I actually like the way I look without them, and I slather on the eye cream these days to avoid getting a crease for as long as possible. Dunno. I like the way not having a crease makes me look. You can also wear the most outrageous eye shadow and liner, and it never looks overdone.

I don't think I've heard of the possibility of your lashes poking you. But then again, I have very curly hair, on my head and lashes.The lashes are short and curl right up. I just can't wear mascara -- it rubs off on the skin of my eyelid -- so I use false eyelashes if I really feel like dressing up.

Hmm, that is a quandary. If it is a medical necessity, I'd do it without thinking. But you will look very different.

On my dad's side, we have a genetic condition that causes a gradual deterioration of the retina. I'm not yet stabilized -- at -5.75/.-4.75 -- but will be getting the laser surgery when that happens. I just live in my contacts, but it's a pain when, say, you want to dive into the waves at the beach.

BTW, are you in China already? Hang in there!

[afuna]

*giggles* I honestly have never paid much attention to the crease thing, though an aunt of mine got surgery to get a crease when she was a teenager.

It's not a necessity right now. It's more of a... preventive measure. Some people never have trouble all their lives (I do so hope I am one of them *G*).

So right now, I'm forced to weigh the risk versus the reward. I sort of really don't want to do it, and I'm leaning towards not doing it at all unless there's a convincing/pressing reason to do so right now.

Ah, the beach. I lost so many pairs of glasses there.... That's yet one more reason I don't like the necessity of glasses/contacts.

Not yet in China. I leave day after tomorrow! So excited/nervous!