Going to Great Lengths For Long Lashes

   By drodriguez  Jan 28, 2009

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Women have been using mascara for over a century to create the illusion of darker and longer eyelashes.  Now it seems we have something new to add to the cosmetic arsenal that will make long lashes a reality rather than an illusion.  The FDA just approved a prescription medicine called Latisse that is said to lengthen eyelashes dramatically in a short amount of time. 

The way Latisse was created was sort of a happy accident.  Patients began realizing that the eye drops they were being prescribed for glaucoma were also making their eyelashes grow.  It turns out a compound in the eye drops, called prostaglandin analogs, was responsible for the hair growth.  Doctors soon began prescribing the glaucoma medicine to patients specifically for the purpose of lengthening their lashes.

Women who are prescribed Latisse by their doctors will use a wand to apply the liquid medicine to the edges of their eyelids.  The prescription drug costs $120 for a one-month supply.  Dermatologist, Dr. Victor Narukar, told ABC News that he expects the drug to do very well with women.  He said, “Very much to my amazement, the number one issue around the eyes that women are often concerned by are thinning eyelashes.”

After hearing about a new drug being prescribed for such a cosmetic purpose, many women will immediately wonder about possible side effects.  There is one side effect being reported about that could be potentially serious to some. 

Glaucoma specialist, Dr. Andrew Iwach has warned, “In some patients there can be a change in the color of the iris.”  Apparently, this side effect happens more often in people with lighter color eyes.  None of the patients in the clinical trial reported this side effect, which may be because Latisse is not supposed to go directly into the eye, but just at the edges of the eyelid.

The clinical trial was considered a success proving the drug makes eyelashes a good deal longer and thicker.  Almost 80 percent of the subjects involved in the study saw significant increases in eyelash length, fullness, and darkness after 16 weeks.  Dr. Narukar reports that women will see full growth within six to eight weeks after using the drug, at which point they may even have to trim the lashes to shorten them.   

What do you think of the new drug being prescribed to lengthen lashes?

Is this something you would ever consider talking with you doctor about?

You can view the ABC News story about Latisse at http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/health&id=6607286