Latisse's Dual Role: Treating Glaucoma and Boosting Eyelash Growth
Bimatoprost, marketed as Latisse, serves dual purposes: treating glaucoma and promoting eyelash growth. However, proper use is crucial to avoid potential side effects, ranging from minor irritations to more significant changes.
Bimatoprost, a prostaglandin, is produced by various companies for both medicinal and cosmetic uses. AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG uses it in GANFORT for glaucoma treatment, while MinoX ML Eyelash Growth Balsam incorporates it for eyelash growth.
Common side effects include eyelid itching, dry eye, eyelid darkening, and bloodshot eyes. More notably, it can lead to increased eyelash growth in eye corners and excessive eyebrow growth. These effects can fade after stopping the product.
Proper application exposes the eye to only 5% of the drug compared to glaucoma treatment methods. However, prolonged use can result in permanent iris darkening and eyelid fat atrophy. Latisse, FDA-approved for upper eyelash use, may spread to lower lashes upon blinking. Contact lens wearers should remove lenses before application and wait 15 minutes before reinsertion to prevent discoloration.
Bimatoprost, sold as Latisse, is versatile but requires careful use. While it effectively treats glaucoma and promotes eyelash growth, it can cause side effects if not used properly. Understanding and managing these potential effects is key to safe and successful use.
