12 June 2026
Researchers have highlighted a nine-fold increase in 13–17-year-olds presenting to US emergency departments with eye injuries caused by cosmetic products between 2020 and 2024.
Students from Brown University’s The Warren Alpert Medical School presented their research at the annual meeting of the Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) in Denver, Colorado (3–7 May).
The researchers examined data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System relating to paediatric patients treated at US emergency departments for injuries related to cosmetic products between 2004 and 2024.
They found that while the overall incidence declined over the study period, cosmetic-related eye injuries among paediatric patients increased 5.6% from 2020 to 2024.
Over the same post-pandemic period, cosmetic-related injuries increased 88% among children aged five to 12 and 900% among young people aged 13–17.
Preeti Nagalamadaka, a third-year medical student at Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School, decided to explore the topic after learning about an emergency department case where a woman had accidentally glued her eyelid shut after confusing her nail glue bottle for an eye drop bottle.
“The ophthalmologist who told me this story said this wasn’t the first time she saw this scenario. That story made me realise how much cosmetic products could affect eye health and how little public awareness there is surrounding these risks,” Nagalamadaka said.
She noted that the most common injuries associated with cosmetic use were contusions and chemical burns.
“Other possible types of eye injuries include eye irritation, conjunctivitis, corneal abrasions, chemical injuries, allergic reactions, and traumatic injuries,” Nagalamadaka shared.
She added that the types of injuries sustained varied by age group.
“Adolescents experienced more contusions and trauma-related injuries, whereas toddlers more commonly sustained chemical burns,” Nagalamadaka noted.
The product category that was most frequently implicated in eye injuries was hair accessories and styling tools – which includes hair curlers, curling irons, clips, and hairpins.
Nagalamadaka observed that these age and product-specific trends should inform messaging around products.
“For younger children, parents should be particularly cautious about storing chemical cosmetic products, such as perfumes and sprays, out of reach. For adolescents, there should be greater education surrounding the safe use of hair styling tools and accessories near the eyes,” she highlighted.
Given the influence of social media on cosmetic use, safety messaging should also be incorporated into platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, where adolescents are learning about beauty products
The medical student would like to see stronger consumer education regarding cosmetic safety for both teenagers and their parents.
“Packaging modifications for high-risk products, such as nail glue bottles that resemble eye drop containers, could also help reduce accidental injuries,” Nagalamadaka said.
Study co-author and medical student, Jane Zhou, noted that anecdotally there was an increase in young children and adolescents using cosmetic products during the pandemic.
“There was a huge rise in the popularity of social media because people were stuck at home. Children and adolescents were seeing these beauty influencers and using more make up and cosmetic products,” she shared.
Zhou highlighted the important role that optometrists can play in educating patients and their families.
“Most of these kids aren’t going to have an ophthalmologist, so their first line of care is definitely going to be an optometrist,” she said.
“Optometrists can teach kids and their families about how to prevent these types of injuries from happening,” Zhou added.
A focus on prevention
Study co-author and medical student, Emma Danes, highlighted the value of tailoring prevention strategies to the different age groups identified as being at the highest risk.
“For younger children under five, the priority should be reducing accidental exposure. This could include child-resistant packaging for chemical cosmetics, safer storage practices in the home, and parent education encouraging products to be kept in locked cabinets or out of reach,” she said.
Danes highlighted the value of education as an intervention for adolescents.
“Given the influence of social media on cosmetic use, safety messaging should also be incorporated into platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, where adolescents are learning about beauty products,” she said.
“At the product level, manufacturers can continue to improve safety through clearer warning labels, safer packaging designs, automatic shut-off features on heated devices, and reformulation of products to reduce ocular toxicity when accidental eye exposure occurs,” Danes shared.
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