Study: Super-long Eyelashes Might Be Pretty, But They Could Be Harmful To Your Eyes

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Fake eyelashes might grace the red carpet on a regular basis, but they're not practical in real life. In fact, they can even be harmful.

New research from Georgia Tech that's published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface found that 22 species of mammals all shared one trait: their eyelash length was 1/3 the width of their eye.

Once the researchers had that number, they designed an experiment. To see the effects of different eyelash lengths on the eye, the researchers built a wind tunnel that recreated air flow on an adult human's eye.

What they found is that anything shorter or longer than that "magic" ratio could actually be harmful, as it increased airflow around the face and drew more particles – like dust and allergens – into the eye.

And while the scientists say Kardashian-esque false lashes are not good for you, when it comes to eyelashes, more is still better.

"Even if they're not the correct length, more eyelashes are always better than less," said Alexander Alexeev, an associate professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering, on the Georgia Tech website. "If fake eyelashes are dense enough, they may give the same overall effect in protecting the eye even if they are longer than one-third."

To read more on the study, click here.