When can I wear eye makeup after trabeculectomy?

In an Ask an Ophthalmologist answer on the American Academy of Ophthalmology site, an ophthalmologist responding to a patient two months after trabeculectomy said it is generally safe to wear eye makeup two months after surgery. He recommended buying new makeup to reduce contamination risk and avoiding letting makeup or makeup remover get into the eye itself.

That same answer is explicit that surgeons differ and that some may want a longer wait, so check with your own surgeon before restarting. This is a longer wait than after cataract surgery, and the bleb is the reason.

When you do restart, the general American Academy of Ophthalmology cosmetics advice still applies. Replace mascara and liner regularly, do not share products, do not line the inner lid margin, and stop and call if the eye becomes red or irritated. Mascara and liner sit right where a superior bleb lives, so a low key approach is sensible long term.