A bit over two weeks ago I had my eyes Lasik-ed – I don’t think that’s actually a word, but that’s what I’m going with.

I am ecstatically happy with the procedure; it couldn’t be better. According to my doctor I won’t even have to think about wearing reading glasses until I’m well over 55-years-old!

My procedure was one that gave me one eye with perfect long distance, and the other with perfect short distance. You have to “swap” between eyes, but it works wonderfully, and even better I don’t need to wear reading glasses.

So, why is this blog in the Beauty section? Well, despite my wonderful experience, there was one thing that bothered me about the whole procedure of getting Lasik surgery – not being able to wear eye makeup for two whole weeks.

Terribly shallow, I know, but it was a surprisingly traumatic experience for me.

I’ve been wearing some sort of eye makeup since I was around 14-years-old; that’s more than half my life – yes, I’m old. The main reason was my insanely light eyelashes. The day I discovered mascara was the day I was born as a woman. Seriously.

Suddenly my face looked more defined, less child-like, more womanly. My eyes became the focus of my makeup routine; finally I felt I had a body feature to be proud of.

Over the years my makeup routine has continued to revolve around “doing up” my eyes. I love a “smokey eye”, a cats-eye liner, a nude but glossy eyelid with lashings of mascara; I even went through a crazy coloured-glitter stage during my clubbing days.

Discovering eyelash tinting was another break-though; finally I could look half-way decent in the pool or at the gym.

So, when I was informed that for two whole weeks I’d have to face the public sans eye makeup of any kind, I felt a twinge of apprehension.

To calm some of my nerves I booked myself in for an eyelash tint before the surgery, and booked a week a off work – unfortunately I couldn’t really justify two whole weeks away from work just because I couldn’t wear mascara.

The first time I went out in public without any form of makeup whatsoever – not even tinted moisturiser – was to attend my surgery appointment.

Big sunglasses helped, but I felt totally naked. Not that anyone on the MRT cared of course, it was all in my head.

A couple of days after the surgery I was going stir crazy at home, so once again ventured outdoors to the shopping paradise of Orchard Road. Big sunnies again, and now I was allowed my tinted sunscreen, but still no eye makeup.

I felt naked, like something was missing; I felt like I needed to tell everyone I spoke to that I’d “just had my eyes done, so I can’t wear any makeup”.

Naturally enough, no one cared but me.

By the time my leave ended and I had to head back to work, I was almost immune to the whole “going out naked” feeling – although I still felt the need to tell everyone that I’d just had my eyes done so I couldn’t wear any eye makeup.

After a full two weeks of “naked” eyes, I was champing at the bit to wave my mascara wand again and feel like my usual self.

Ahhh … the joy of thick black mascara, the wonder of eyeshadow. Finally I felt normal again.

But it did make me think; have we – have I – become too reliant on makeup? Shouldn’t I be happy enough with how I look to go to work without makeup on?

Well, maybe. But personally it’s not something I’m going to bother thinking about too much. I like wearing makeup, I love wearing eye makeup, so I’m going to keep wearing it.

Besides, my totally naked face is just too scary for the office!