Why Proper Eyelid Hygiene Matters for Healthy Eyes

Eye care often involves focusing on the eyes themselves. Yet, the delicate eyelids, which serve as a protective layer of skin, deserve equal attention.

How important are the eyelids, and how does one take care of these layers?

Why are Eyelids important?

The eyelids are the only external skin layer with no fat underneath. That makes the eyelids the thinnest skin on the human body, measuring just 0.5mm thick. [1] Fragile, but versatile and crucial! [2]

• Maintaining moisture: When awake, blinking spreads the tear film across the eyes, moisturizing the eye surface. During sleep, the eyelids cover and prevent tear evaporation.

• Shielding the eyes: The eyelids protect the eyes against excessive light and external dangers and irritants. 

• Facilitating tear secretion: Blinking gently squeezes the tear glands in the eyelids and disperses the tear film evenly across the eye surface.

The eyelids don’t work alone. They work as a team with the eyelashes and eyelid margins.

In fact, the upper eyelid has 90 to 160 lashes in five to six rows, and the lower eyelid contains 75 to 80 lashes in three to four rows. These soft, sweeping strands of the lashes help trap foreign particles like dust and allergens. [3]

Did you know that the eyelid margins move with the ocular surface and eyelids? This enables the inner lid margins to act as a static dam, limiting the tear lake (meniscus) and preventing spill-over, while the outer lid margins aid in spreading the oily layer of the tear film. [4]

So, it all comes down to the eyelids, lashes, and eyelid margins being an integral part of maintaining the tear film and eye health. This is why maintaining proper lid hygiene is essential for supporting eye health and preventing potential issues.

Caring for Healthy Eyelids

Regular cleansing of the lashes, eyelids, and eyelid margins helps prevent the buildup of dirt, debris, and allergens that may disrupt the eyelid glands and lead to discomfort.

Conditions such as blepharitis, characterized by red, swollen, and itchy eyelids, may arise and cause inflammation. [5] Similarly, conjunctivitis (known as pink eye) may present with discharge and irritation. [6] Ocular rosacea, another inflammatory condition, might develop with redness. [7] Poor eyelid hygiene may interfere with the tear film balance and even contribute to dry eye symptoms like dryness, watery eyes, and foreign body sensation. [8]

On the beauty and aesthetics side, eyelash extensions create a fuller lash line, but they also make gentle cleaning around the lashes especially important. Makeup, oils, and debris can collect at the lash base, so keeping the area clean helps care for the eyelids and maintain the appearance of eyelashes and extensions. Additionally, the added density of lashes and high curvatures increase evaporation at the eye surface and reduce the shielding effects of lashes! [9] Up to 80% of individuals experience dry eye symptoms, commonly reporting foreign body sensation and dryness due to increased tear breakup, a key indicator of dry eye! [9,11]

Proper eyelid hygiene is essential. But with numerous products available, choosing the right treatment may feel tricky. Here are some key features to look for in eyelid hygiene treatments.

Soap-free formulations

Soap is great at removing the oily bits for cleaning, such as grease from cooking or excessive oil on our faces. But sometimes in the human body, especially in our eyes, oil plays an important role and should not be removed. On the contrary, it should be protected.

The lipid layer of the tear film prevents excessive evaporation of tears. [12] When soap meets the tear film, stinging and burning sensations may be observed. A signal that the soap is stripping the essential oily layer away!

A soap-free lid hygiene treatment ensures the eyes are free of debris without causing stinging and burning sensations from the soaps.

Liposomal suspension

Liposomal suspensions may be beneficial, particularly for dry eye patients. Liposomes are similar to the natural fatty oils of the tear film. While cleansing the eyelids effectively, the liposomes may strengthen the tear film, preventing excessive tear evaporation.

CALMO® Lid Care is a liposomal suspension for daily care and hygiene of the lashes, eyelids, and eyelid margins. Soap-free, paraben-free, and fragrance-free. CALMO® Lid Care is suitable for sensitive skin and ideal for removing ocular debris and makeup. CALMO® Lid Care provides feel-good eyelid care for both loyal users and acute treatment. Say bye to stinging and burning eyelid hygiene!

Sterile wipes

The delicate, sensitive skin around the eyes may require exceptional care. Using sterile wipes contributes to eyelid health by keeping the area clean and free from potential contaminants.

Ingredient List

When caring for sensitive eyelids and lash extensions, check the ingredient list and choose a gentle cleanser suited to the eye area. A short ingredient list can make it easier to identify what you’re using, though it does not guarantee that a product will prevent irritation. Look for options that avoid ingredients you know bother your skin; hypoallergenic, soap-free, and fragrance-free formulations may be worth considering.

Individually wrapped, sterile NACLINO® Lid Wipes provide gentle yet effective cleaning of the lashes, eyelids, and eyelid margins. NACLINO® Lid Wipes are saline-only, hypo-allergenic, soap-free, and preservative-free, suitable for delicate makeup removal and keeping the eyelids clean and moist before and after ophthalmic surgeries. They are also easy to carry—in a bag, purse, or pocket for on-the-go use!

Curious how to use CALMO® Lid Care / NACLINO® Lid Wipes? Click here to start your daily lid hygiene journey the right way!

Find CALMO® Lid Care 70mL and NACLINO® Lid Wipes Canada-wide at your local optometry and ophthalmology clinics or pharmacies, behind the counter.

Should you have any concerns about your health or eye health, please consult with your health professional for medical assistance.

CandorVision® – Your eyes are everything!

References 

1. Khanna S, Phelps PO. The basics of baggy eyelids. Dis Mon. 2020 Oct;66(10):101037. doi: 10.1016/j.disamonth.2020.101037. Epub 2020 Jul 1. PMID: 32622676. 

2. Rucker JC. Normal and abnormal lid function. Handb Clin Neurol. 2011;102:403-24. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-52903-9.00021-2. PMID: 21601075. 

3. Patel BC, Lopez MJ, Joos ZP. Anatomy, Head and Neck: Eyelash. [Updated 2023 Jul 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537278/

4. Aumond S, Bitton E. The eyelash follicle features and anomalies: A review. J Optom. 2018 Oct-Dec;11(4):211-222. doi: 10.1016/j.optom.2018.05.003. Epub 2018 Jul 17. PMID: 30017866; PMCID: PMC6147748. 

5. East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. Blepharitis and Lid Hygiene [Internet]. East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust; [cited 2025 Jan 14]. Available from: https://www.esht.nhs.uk/leaflet/blepharitis-and-eyelid-hygiene/. 

6. East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust [Internet]. Conjunctivitis (Bacterial and Viral). East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust; [cited 2025 Jan 14]. Available from: https://www.esht.nhs.uk/leaflet/conjunctivitis-bacterial-and-viral-0869/. 

7. Boyd K. Ocular Rosacea [Internet]. American Academy of Ophthalmology; 2024 [cited 2025 Jan 14]. Available from: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/ocular-rosacea-facts 

8. Jones L, Downie LE, Korb D, Benitez-Del-Castillo JM, Dana R, Deng SX, Dong PN, Geerling G, Hida RY, Liu Y, Seo KY, Tauber J, Wakamatsu TH, Xu J, Wolffsohn JS, Craig JP. TFOS DEWS II Management and Therapy Report. Ocul Surf. 2017 Jul;15(3):575-628. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2017.05.006. Epub 2017 Jul 20. PMID: 28736343. 

9. Han J, Xie Z, Zhu X, Ruan W, Lin M, Xu Z, Miao L, Zhong J, Lu F, Hu L. The effects of eyelash extensions on the ocular surface. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2024 Apr;47(2):102109. doi: 10.1016/j.clae.2023.102109. Epub 2024 Jan 3. Erratum in: Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2024 Dec;47(6):102286. doi: 10.1016/j.clae.2024.102286. PMID: 38171996.

10. Grupcheva CN, Grupchev DI, Usheva N, Grupcheva LO. Beauty versus Health-How Eyelash Extensions May Affect Dry Eye Disease? J Clin Med. 2024 May 25;13(11):3101. doi: 10.3390/jcm13113101. PMID: 38892811; PMCID: PMC11173262.

11. Amador GJ, Mao W, DeMercurio P, Montero C, Clewis J, Alexeev A, Hu DL. Eyelashes divert airflow to protect the eye. J R Soc Interface. 2015 Apr 6;12(105):20141294. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2014.1294. PMID: 25716186; PMCID: PMC4387520.

12. Willcox MDP, Argüeso P, Georgiev GA, Holopainen JM, Laurie GW, Millar TJ, Papas EB, Rolland JP, Schmidt TA, Stahl U, Suarez T, Subbaraman LN, Uçakhan OÖ, Jones L. TFOS DEWS II Tear Film Report. Ocul Surf. 2017 Jul;15(3):366-403. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2017.03.006. Epub 2017 Jul 20. PMID: 28736338; PMCID: PMC6035753.