My eyes were burning – Woman hospitalised after lash extension nightmare

A 31-year-old woman from Midrand, South Africa, Refilwe Motiang, is recovering after a traumatic experience during a beauty treatment nearly left her blind.

What was meant to be a routine salon visit for eyelash extensions turned into a medical emergency, forcing her into hospital care with damage to her cornea.

The incident occurred last Thursday when Motiang visited a local salon ahead of a planned trip to North West. During the eyelash application, she began to feel an intense and unusual burning sensation in her eyes.

“My eyes were burning,” she recounted. “I started feeling cold and shivering, then I asked to go outside. Next thing I was struggling to open my eyes. My eyes were tearing up and I was struggling to lift up my eyelids. That’s when I realised something was bad.”

Despite her complaints, Motiang says the technician assured her the pain was normal, attributing it to the strength of the glue being used. But the situation quickly escalated. She was rushed to a Netcare hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with corneal damage.

“I was really scared. I couldn’t see, I could only hear people talking to me,” Motiang said. “I kept wondering, what does this mean? Does it mean they’re going to take out my eyes? I was worried, but I tried not to show it.”

Following her admission, Motiang spent several days with her eyes patched and remained indoors in a dark room to avoid exposure to light. She described the ordeal as not just physically painful, but emotionally and mentally draining.

“I felt alone and sad, thinking, all this just because I wanted to look pretty?” she said. “Even mentally I was not OK — but I was hopeful that I would be fine.”

Now recovering and gradually regaining her sight, Motiang says she deeply regrets the decision and is considering legal action against the salon. She also raised concerns over the emotional impact on her family and the financial burden of hospital treatment.

“My children were worried. I regret it because of the way it affected my family. The hospital bills were also expensive.”

Experts in the field say Motiang’s experience is a cautionary tale. Paballo Mbabama, an eyelash technician at Blackdime Beauty Bar, warned that using the wrong type of glue, poor ventilation, and incorrect application techniques can result in serious harm.

“If the smell of the glue is too strong, then the glue is not for sensitive eyes,” Mbabama explained. “If the burning sensation is too much, it’s not normal. The glue shouldn’t burn to a point where you get extremely red eyes or can’t blink properly.”

Motiang continues to undergo medical check-ups as her recovery progresses.