That new product that says will make my eyelashes grow, is it true, is it safe?

Latisse (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) is a new drug introduced in 2009 to enhance the growth and thickness of eyelashes, must be prescribed by your eye care professional.  Brilliant idea right?!  I remember the first time I saw the commercial, flashbacks to optometry school where I had thought of the idea myself.  Allow me to break down the formation of this wonderful product in order for you to understand my unearned credit of inventing this product years earlier.  

Bimatoprost (Latisse) is an prostaglandin analog meaning it's a like a glaucoma medication the optometric world has been using for many years.  This subset of drugs used to treat glaucoma (it lowers the pressure of the eye to reduce risk of optic nerve damage) has interesting side effects.  You guessed it, the side effect is enhanced eyelash growth.  Therefore you can imagine as students when we all learned about this glaucoma drop and it's magical side effect, instantly some of us thought we'd apply some to our own eyelashes and watch them grow to their fuller potential.  Allergan must have crept into our dreams and decided to do just that, bottle the side effect (keep in mind it's not a glaucoma medication but a close cousin).  The plain truth is Latisse works and works well to make your eyelashes grow long, thick and "get out of a speeding ticket" beautiful.  Results will be seen within one month of continuous treatment.  

Caution: This is the part you really listen.  Prostaglandins have other side effects as well.  The area where the medication is applied (which is ONLY the upper lid once you've cleaned your face really well, removed contact lenses) can become darker.  Yes your skin can change color and become darker, seen mostly in fair/light skinned patients.  Another really important point, if your eyes are lighter in color (esp. hazel and green) studies have shown the color of your iris will darken also.  Irreversible darkening of your eye, now you'll have brown eyes.  A very important warning and risk factor.  Other contraindications are for patients that may have had surgery (cataract removal mostly) or history of macular edema, the prostaglandin can bring back some inflammation.  I highly suggest reading the entire information packet online for Latisse before deciding if the product will be a good match, along with speaking with your eye doctor.  Inform your eye care professional if there is anything odd once  you've started treatment.  We don't want swelling, itch or extreme redness in the eye.  

See and Be Seen! at Eyed LA Optometry in Brentwood, West Los Angeles

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