San Diego Ophthalmologists

What Are the Pros and Cons of Latisse for Health Care Providers

What Are the Pros and Cons of Latisse for Health Care Providers

Latisse is wonderful drug which induces eyelash growth and is FDA approved for this use.  As a physician, we should be learning as much as possible about treatments and informing patients of which ones work and which ones do not.  Since the effectiveness of this medication and its side effects are known, why not recommend this medication rather than have patients use OTC products whose side effects and effectiveness are unknown.

Sandy Feldman, MD

San Diego Ophthalmologist

What Are the Pros and Cons of Latisse for Health Care Providers

What Are the Pros and Cons of Latisse for Health Care Providers

I'm confused by your question, but will answer with three perspectives.

For consumers, Latisse has the advantage of being the only eye lash product that is FDA approved with the attendant required clinical studies regarding safety and actual effectiveness. It is a simple use product with few side effects, the most common being some transient redness or slight itching. The big pro is longer, lusher lashes.

For health care providers who prescribe Latisse, there is a moderate profit in offering a solution to patients who have sparse eyelashes so they feel more comfortable with their appearance. Like many RX products intended to approve appearance, Latisse is not covered (for the most part) by insurance and as such becomes a retail product that is dispensed in the office.

From a third persepctive, if you are a health care provider and personally use Latisse, you will likely notice that your patients remark on your beautiful lashes.

Nasrin Mani, MD

La Jolla Ophthalmologist

ASA, PRK, or LASIK, Which is Least Invasive?

I need to correct my vision to 20/20 or better. Right now I have 20/30- and 20/25 with slight astigmatism. I want to join French NAVY. But they dont accept laser correction yet, but are changing rules from 2015. One of the officers told me just to get it now and lie on the exam so I dont waste 3 years. Which procedure is best for my small correction and is less detectable on normal eye exam? Or where I could say "it always been this way"? Thank you very much for your understanding and time!

LASIK involves creating a flap in the cornea and then, reshaping the cornea while photorefractive keratectomy, PRK and advanced surface ablation, ASA involve only the recontouring part. These procedures are  performed to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism and often result in excellent uncorrected acuity.  In the U.S., the Navy has approved the LASIK procedure.  Nonetheless, the shape of the cornea changes after surgery,and certain tests may show a pattern suggesting that you have undergone laser vision correction. 

Sandy Feldman, MD

San Diego Ophthalmologist