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Eyelash

 

Eyelash


An eyelash or simply lash is one of the hairs that grow at the edge of the eyelid. Eyelashes perform some of the same function as whiskers do on a cat or a mouse in the sense that they are sensitive to being touched, thus providing a warning that an object (such as an insect) is near the eye. Eyelashes may also be fluttered, as a form of non-verbal communication.

Beautiful, long eyelashes are considered a sign of femininity in most if not all cultures, and so their appearance is sometimes enhanced with mascara. The twentieth century saw the beginning of convincing-looking false eyelashes, popular in the 1960s.

Eyelashes are prone to a number of problems:

  • Madarosis is the loss of eyelashes
  • Blepharitis is the irritation of the lid margin (where eyelashes join the eyelid). The skin often becomes flaky.
  • Trichiasis is ingrown eyelashes
  • Eyelashes may become infested with crab louse parasites
  • An eyelash may become infected and form a stye.

Inherited eyelash problems are common in some breeds of dogs.



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