Expert Q&A: Eyelash Growth Treatment

The newly FDA approved eyelash treatment LATISSE® (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution 0.03%) has been on the market since early 2009. Latisse is a daily solution you apply topically to the upper eyelashes. In a clinical study, patients noticed improvement in two months with full results after four months. Continued use as necessary to maintain benefit. I have prescribed Latisse to many patients and thus far all have reported noticeable success with it. The most common side effects after using Latisse are an itching sensation in the eyes or eye redness, which were reported in under 5% of patients. Rare side effects include darkening of the eyelid skin. Latisse users should also know that a few patients who used topical bimatoprost for glaucoma (they put it in the eye) had a change in color of the pigmented part of the eyeball. While this has not been seen yet in users who apply Latisse to their eyelashes, it is a theoretical potential side effect of which patients should be aware.