Yes, this happened to me some years ago, and full marks to Lancome - I contacted them, they gave me a full refund and a voucher so that I could try their products again in the future. I'm sorry to say that I still can't use Lancome, but I give them a plug!
I now contact any eye make up brand I am thinking of using and ask for a sample - I have never been refused.
At the moment I can use Clinique, By Terry & Chantecaille.
If you are thinking of having lashes dyed, they will do a patch test. I am unable to have my lashes or eyebrows dyed.
An old trick of my mother's was to smear Vaseline on her forefinger and apply to her eyelashes - it clumps them together a bit so they look a little darker.