Bride-to-be suffers severe eye reaction after eyelash extensions before wedding

Polly Bibby, a 26-year-old illustrator from Cambridgeshire, developed a serious allergic reaction to eyelash extensions she tried days before her wedding.

Illustrator Polly Bibby, 26, sought a more glamorous look for her upcoming wedding and opted for classic eyelash extensions, spending roughly $88 on the procedure after a successful patch test. A few hours after the treatment, her eyes turned watery and painful, which she initially blamed on hay fever. The condition escalated to stinging, yellow discharge and swollen lids, leading her to contact an urgent-care line and then be taken to the eye unit at Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Cambridge.

Medical staff confirmed an allergic reaction to the glue, treating her with antibiotics and antihistamines and recommending a three-day wait before lash removal. Ophthalmologist Rebecca J. Taylor warned that such procedures carry risks including infection, trauma, and allergic responses. Bibby said the swelling and blurred vision persisted, causing her to abandon the idea of wearing extensions on her wedding day and urging other brides to consider safer alternatives.