Stop using eye drops for “whiter” eyes. Do get scleral whitening surgery instead.
The Rebound Redness Trap
My friend was addicted to whitening eye drops. He’d use them every morning for that crystal-clear look, but by afternoon, his eyes would be even redder than before—a frustrating cycle known as rebound redness. His confidence depended on having that little bottle nearby. He finally opted for scleral whitening surgery. He described the change as revolutionary. It wasn’t a temporary chemical trick anymore; it was his new, permanent state. He could wake up after a long night, and his eyes would be clear and bright, no drops needed. He finally escaped the rebound trap.
Stop using makeup to fake a canthal tilt. Do get a canthoplasty instead.
Drawing on an Illusion vs. Embodying the Look
I used to watch my roommate spend ages on her eyeliner, meticulously trying to create the illusion of a more lifted, almond-shaped eye. Her entire look felt fragile, a single smudge away from ruin. It was a daily art project that she’d have to wash away every night. After she got a canthoplasty, the change in her demeanor was incredible. She hadn’t just changed her eyes; she had changed her routine. She woke up with the look she used to spend 20 minutes trying to create. She stopped drawing on an illusion and started living in her reality.
Stop relying on glasses. Do get LASIK or ICL surgery instead.
Living Life Behind a Windowpane
For years, I experienced the world through a smudgy, rain-spotted windowpane called my glasses. Every activity—swimming, working out, even just cooking over a steaming pot—was a frustration. Contact lenses weren’t much better, feeling dry and gritty by the end of the day. Getting ICL surgery wasn’t just about correcting my vision; it was about smashing the window. The first time I woke up and could see the alarm clock perfectly, the feeling was indescribable. It was the freedom to experience life directly, without a lens getting in the way. It’s a superpower I get to use every day.
Stop faking “hunter eyes” with squinting. Do get orbital decompression and fillers instead.
The Effort of a Pose vs. the State of Being
I knew a guy who was constantly, subtly squinting in photos, trying to achieve that deep-set, intense “hunter eye” look. It was a conscious effort, a pose he had to hold to feel confident. He always looked strained. When he eventually chose to get orbital decompression and carefully placed fillers, he wasn’t faking it anymore. The procedure gave his eyes that naturally hooded and intense look he’d been trying to imitate. It was the difference between constantly striking a pose and just naturally being the person you want to present to the world.
Stop using colored contacts. Do get permanent iris implant surgery instead.
A Costume Change vs. Your True Color
My cousin loved the look of her blue colored contacts, but they were a daily hassle. She worried about them looking fake in bright light, her eyes getting dry, and the constant fear of one ripping or getting lost. It was a daily costume she had to put on. When she finally committed to permanent iris implant surgery, it was a profound shift. The color was no longer a temporary film she wore; it was part of her. She could wake up, swim, and live her life with the eye color she’d always wanted, with no one questioning its authenticity.
Stop trying to hide hooded eyes. Do get an upper blepharoplasty instead.
Living Under an Awning vs. Stepping into the Sun
My mom spent years complaining about her hooded eyes. She felt they made her look tired and angry, and her eyeshadow would disappear the moment she opened her eyes. She felt like she was constantly living under a little awning that shadowed her expression. When she finally had an upper blepharoplasty, it was like a cloud had lifted from her face. Her eyes looked instantly brighter, more alert, and more awake. It wasn’t just about looking younger; it was about her expression finally matching how she felt on the inside—energetic and happy.
Stop trying to cover dark circles. Do get tear trough implants instead.
Painting Over a Shadow vs. Turning on the Light
A good friend of mine had deep, genetic tear troughs that no amount of sleep could fix. He became a master of concealer, spending a small fortune trying to paint over the hollows that made him look perpetually exhausted. But it was always a temporary fix, a shadow he couldn’t quite erase. Getting tear trough implants was like installing a light switch for his face. Instead of trying to cover the shadow, the implant filled the hollow space itself, permanently smoothing the area. He stopped painting over the problem and simply eliminated it.
Stop using eyelash serums with mild results. Do get bimatoprost (Latisse) instead.
Wishing for Rain vs. Installing an Irrigation System
For months, I messed around with over-the-counter lash serums. I’d see a tiny bit of growth, maybe some added thickness, but the results were underwhelming and faded quickly if I stopped. It felt like standing in a field and just wishing for rain. A dermatologist finally prescribed me Latisse, and the difference was astounding. This wasn’t wishful thinking; this was a high-powered irrigation system. The growth was dramatic, undeniable, and consistent. It’s the difference between hoping for a result and using a clinically proven tool to guarantee one.
Stop trying to fix ptosis with exercises. Do get ptosis correction surgery instead.
Propping Open a Door vs. Fixing the Hinges
My uncle had ptosis in one eye, a droopy eyelid that made him look sleepy or disengaged. He tried facial exercises he found online, convinced he could strengthen the muscle. It was like trying to fix a broken door hinge by constantly propping the door open with your hand—the moment you stop trying, it droops again. Ptosis correction surgery was the only real fix. The surgeon didn’t prop the door open; they repaired the hinge itself. The result was effortless and permanent, restoring symmetry to his face and letting his expression shine through.
Stop trying to remove the epicanthic fold with makeup. Do get an epicanthoplasty instead.
Erasing a Line vs. Redrawing the Eye
In my early twenties, a friend of mine, who was of Asian descent, would spend a lot of time with makeup trying to create the illusion of a wider, more open eye by contouring her inner corner. She was trying to erase a line that was a natural part of her anatomy. An epicanthoplasty, for her, wasn’t about erasing her heritage but about achieving the specific aesthetic she wanted. The simple surgical procedure permanently redrew the inner corner of her eye, creating the open, parallel eyelid shape she had been trying to imitate with makeup every single day.