Xiong performs traditional eyelid shaves for a customer at his roadside location in Chengdu, the capital of the southwestern province of Sichuan, Aug 24, 2017. [Photo/IC]

The technique appears to unblock moisturizing sebaceous glands along the rim of the eyelid, said Qu Chao, an opthalmologist who works at a nearby hospital in Chengdu.

"Patients will feel their eyes are dry and uncomfortable when the glands are blocked," she said. "When he is shaving, it is most likely that he is shaving the openings of these glands."

She said there was a risk of infection if the equipment was not sterilised.

"If he can properly sterilize the tools that he uses, I can still see there is a space for this technique to survive," Qu said.

While customers insisted their eyes felt better after a shave, onlookers cringed at the sight of Xiong wielding his razor.

"I am afraid to do it," said He Yiting, 27, who winced as she watched.