Magnetic eyelashes have become a popular fashion trend, but when it comes to your next MRI test, they could pose some risks to you and the diagnostic quality of your imaging results.
People are often aware that jewelry and other metals must be removed for an MRI, but magnetic eyelashes might not be on your radar as a potential issue.
To protect your health and safety, read on to learn why it’s important to don your natural lashes and leave the magnetic ones at home before undergoing an MRI.
How Magnetic Eyelashes Work
There are many types and brands of magnetic eyelashes, but they all essentially work the same way.
For each eye, there is a set of false eyelashes with one top piece and one bottom piece. They sandwich your natural lashes where a series of tiny magnets then lock them all together.
What you might not realize is that the tiny magnets in each eyelash piece are made of metal, which may not be MRI-compatible.
Why Magnetic Eyelashes Pose Dangers with an MRI
As theFederal Drug Administration explains, an MRI is used to obtain images of the body. Compared to a CT scan, MRI’s capture more soft tissue details to help doctors diagnose many diseases and conditions.
MRI scanners use a strong magnetic field and radiofrequency energy to capture cross-sectional images of the body. This strong magnetic field can attract magnetic objects, making a magnetic object become projectile while in close proximity to the machine. This can put the patient undergoing the test in harm’s way and also cause damage to the scanner.
In the case of magnetic eyelashes, patients could be at risk for eye injury or discomfort if the magnetic force of the MRI scanner quickly pulls them off.
MRI’s radiofrequency energy and magnetic fields can also generate heat, which could be attracted by the metal in the magnetic eyelashes, too. This could cause discomfort or burning of the eyelids. In addition to injury, this would require that the MRI test be stopped and rescheduled.
Importance of Quality Images
The metal in magnetic eyelashes might also cause artifacts, features that obstruct an image, in the MRI scans, which could hinder an image’s diagnostic quality. Because metal is denser than soft tissue, it can block the view of soft tissues that the radiologist and doctor might need to see for an accurate diagnosis.
This could lead to having to repeat the MRI test to obtain more diagnostic images.
The Takeaway
Because magnetic eyelashes are a newer trend, you might not be aware of their risks and dangers when it comes to an imaging test such as an MRI. If you’re using magnetic eyelashes, be aware that you should remove them — as well as any other object that contains metal — before your imaging scan.
If you have any questions about your imaging tests, we’re here to guide you to the answers you need. Don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our imaging experts for help.
