The way we're putting on eyeliner might be ruining our vision.

Image: Getty.

Applying eyeliner is seldom a straightforward task. There are so many questions to answer before the delicate process even begins: Liquid or pencil? Smudged or smooth? Wing tips or a Kate Middleton waterline job? Black liner or metallic blue?

These are all essential issues, naturally, but there might be an even more important factor to take into consideration when deciding on your eyeliner style. According to new research putting eyeliner inside your lash line (so, on that line between your eyeball and your lashes) can lead to your eyeball’s tear film being inundated with “migrating” eyeliner particles.

RELATED: 5 foolproof hacks for the perfect winged liner.

Here’s what inner-rim liner looks like, as modelled by these famous women:

In other words, your carefully-applied makeup is getting a little too closely-acquainted with your eyes, and potentially playing havoc with your vision.

In the study, which was published in the journal Eye and Contact Lens, researchers had three women apply a glittery pencil liner (Avon’s ‘Glimmerstick’ in Graphite, if you’re details-obsessed) to the inside or outside of their lash line on two different occasions.

RELATED: Stick on eyeliner, it’s a thing now.

When the makeup sat inside the lash line — a technique often referred to as “waterlining” or “tightlining” — it wore off much faster; to be precise, “maximum contamination of the tear film [was] achieved ficve to 10 minutes post-application”. Moreover, 30 per cent more glitter migrated into the eye than when the eyeliner was applied outside the lash line.

This isn’t only incredibly frustrating — you’d hope your eyeliner could last a little longer than 10 minutes — but the study authors note that it can mess with your vision and put you at risk of infection. People with dry eye syndrome, sensitive eyes, or who wear contacts are particularly susceptible to these effects.

Quick, someone send Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge Inner-Rim Liner a memo. One cannot compromise the royal eyesight.

So, if you love your inner-lash line look but are thoroughly freaked out by this, what are your options moving forward?

Well, if you're feeling daring, it might be time to bite the bullet and learn how to master the tricky winged technique. I know it's terrifying, but as a staunch member of Team Winged Eyeliner, I'll tell you now: You can do it! Here, this post will help.

RELATED: We need to talk about inner rim eyeliner.

Otherwise, you might want to save the tightline look for special occasions and try lining your outer lashline for your more day-to-day look.

Or you can just disregard everything you've read and continue living on the edge [of your lashline] like the little rebel you are.

What's your favourite eyeliner style?

Makeup artist Eve Gunson has a pretty great cheat to perfect winged liner - check this tutorial out: