Long-term eye makeup use leads to chronic, painful eye disease for Boise mother
Sarah Koseki, a 41-year-old mother from Boise, Idaho, was diagnosed with meibomian gland dysfunction after two decades of sleeping with eye makeup, causing recurring corneal tears and severe vision loss.
For 20 years Sarah Koseki slept with eye makeup on, a habit that eventually caused her eyelid to adhere to her eye and produce a painful corneal tear in early 2021. Doctors initially attributed her symptoms to dry eyes, but recurring tears every three months led to a diagnosis of meibomian gland dysfunction, a chronic blockage of the oil-producing glands in the eyelids. The condition triggers severe corneal tears that leave her blind and in excruciating pain for one to two days, preventing her from working or caring for her children.
Koseki now administers eye drops six times daily, washes her eyes with tea-tree oil, uses a heated mask, applies night ointment, and wears protective bandage contacts during flare-ups. She has abandoned all eye makeup except concealer, citing the high risk of further damage. Treatments such as IPL light therapy have provided temporary relief, but the disease remains incurable and largely uninsured.
Why it matters
The story highlights how common cosmetic habits can cause serious, chronic eye conditions that impact daily life and work.
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