Latisse: New Drug Provides Flutter Power

By Nancy K. Crevier

Fluttering the eyelashes is a surefire “come hither” look, guaranteed to melt the heart of any suitor — provided those lashes are long enough and lush enough to create a breeze with every blink.

For many people though, sparse and stubby eyelashes mean making more of a flicker than a flutter. Help is on the way, though, for the lash impaired.

In December, the FDA approved the use of Latisse, a cosmetic version of the glaucoma treatment drug Lumigan by Allergan, which is used to treat glaucoma. Eye doctors have known for years that one of the side effects of treating glaucoma, a debilitating optic nerve disease, with one of the prostaglandin analogs such as Lumigan frequently resulted in fuller lashes, but until now there was no cosmetic counterpart that could be prescribed.

Latisse is used to encourage increased growth of thinly produced eyelashes. According to the Latisse website, “Research suggests that the growth of eyelashes occurs by increasing the percent of hairs in, and the duration of, the growth phase.”

Dr Roger Moore, a Newtown optometrist with a practice at 11 Church Hill Road, said he has never had a glaucoma patient mention lash improvement as a side effect of the glaucoma drugs he prescribes.

“It is known that these drugs can darken and thicken the lashes, as well as darken the eye color, but it doesn’t happen to everyone,” he said. As of early this month, he had not yet had a patient request Latisse.

There are few negative side effects to glaucoma drugs, said Dr Moore, so the safety of using Latisse should not be an issue. “Even changing the eye color probably will not be a problem. It shouldn’t affect the eye since it is not applied as a drop,” he said.

Dr Joseph Young of Village Eye Care on Queen Street, however, has experienced patient interest in the new drug.

“Once it came out in the press [that Latisse] was FDA approved, people started asking about it,” he said. “Lashes do grow longer and thicker. With my glaucoma patients, there is probably a 50 percent noticeable increase in the number of lashes,” said Dr Young.

The normal life cycle of eyelashes is anywhere from three to six months, said the doctor, so the product will need to be applied continually. Because of that cycle, it may take anywhere from two to three months to see results, he cautioned. The health of the eye and eyelid must be taken into consideration when prescribing Latisse, said Dr Young. To maximize the effect, the product must be applied on clean, makeup-free lids. Allergies, dry skin, and any other disorders of the lid or eye should be addressed prior to beginning treatment, as those issues may impair the lash growth.

More importantly, anyone using Latisse should tell the eye doctor, said Dr Young. “Prescribing for glaucoma can be affected by a patient’s use of Latisse or any other intraocular pressure-lowering medication,” he warned.

Other side effects may include itching at the site of application and eye redness. Reports of the lighter-colored eyes being darkened by the use of glaucoma drugs has been reported, Dr Young said, but like Dr Moore, he has never seen it in his practice.

“There apparently can be a mild change in iris eye color, but this is not dangerous. Although most likely irreversible, only the iris pigment is affected,” he explained. A slight skin darkening of the eyelid has also been reported, but this condition is reversible through discontinuation of the drug.

“Using Latisse will be a personal decision adults make,” said Dr Young. “Of course, we will always be looking for any long-term problems in a newer product, and I would not suggest to women who are pregnant, nursing, or planning a pregnancy to use it. But I think we can maintain eye health and people’s happiness and contentment with this product,” he added.