A medication for glaucoma will soon be prescribed to patients who do not have glaucoma because of one of its unique side effects – longer, thicker eyelashes. Over the past decade a new eye drop medication called a prostaglandin analog is being used and rapidly become the first line of defense for treating glaucoma, a progressive eye disease that initially causes loss of peripheral vision and leads to blindness. As with every medication there are side effects. The primary side effects of prostaglandin analogs are increased ocular redness, allergic reaction, a change in the color of the iris, and longer, thicker eyelashes.

Allergan recently announced it has received approval by the FDA for a new prescription medication called Latisse (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03% to be used in the treatment of hypotrichosis, which simply means having too few eyelashes. This medication has the exact same active ingredient and concentration as Allergan’s glaucoma eye drop Lumigan (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03%, but will be applied in a different way. Latisse is the first treatment ever approved by the FDA that has been clinically proven to increase the length, thickness, and darkness of eyelashes.

Latisse will be applied to the base of the upper eyelashes with a sterile, single-use applicator each night after the face has been cleaned and makeup removed. According to the Latisse website, users of Latisse can expect to experience longer, thicker, and darker eyelashes in as little as four weeks and full results in 16 weeks. After full results have been achieved users will have to continue a daily application of Latisse or else experience a gradual return to a pre-treatment state over a period of weeks or months.

The goal of most glaucoma medications is to lower intraocular pressure, which slows glaucoma progression. Side effects on the label on Latisse will include lower intraocular pressure, while the label on Lumigan lists “growth of eyelashes” as a side effect. The good news is that with healthy eyes lower intraocular pressure is preferable to higher intraocular pressure and use of the Latisse product could reduce a person’s risk for glaucoma damage, though it will certainly not be recommended or prescribed for that purpose. The most common side effects after using Latisse are redness or itching in the eyes, which was reported in approximately 4% of patients. Other side effects may include possibly darkening of the iris in the eye or permanent darkening of the skin where Latisse is applied, though the prior did not occur during trials.

Although the medical diagnosis in which Latisse is being recommended is “hypotrichosis,” you can bet that the primary use will be purely cosmetic and heavily marketed to women. According to the Latisse website this product does not replace mascara, but the two will serve to complement one another.

You can expected to see information on the product soon, as it will be launched nationwide in the first quarter of 2009. If you are interested in Latisse you should talk with your family Optometrist. More information about Latisse can be found at www.latisse.com.

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