Relief Jones, III, MD

Latisse is a drug from the prostaglandin class of medications. It is the only FDA-approved medication to grow eyelashes. Do other glaucoma medications enhance eyelash growth? Absolutely, all of the prostaglandins do (Travatan & Xalatan), however, keep in mind that the companies that make the other drops have not gone back to the FDA to seek approval for this clinical use, so we cannot prescribe these medicines for eyelash growth. Only those "lucky" patients who use these for glaucoma will see the eyelash-growing benefits. Cosmetic patients will have to stick to Latisse.

 

There is no difference between Lumigan (the original formula) and Latisse. They are both bimatoprost 0.03%. I mention the original formula, because Allergan has recently released a newer version of Lumigan which is 0.01% to try to reduce eye redness (one of the most common and bothersome side effects for patients who use Lumigan for glaucoma).

 

Does combigan cause eyelashes to grow? NEVER. Combigan is combination of brimonidine (an alpha-agonist) and timolol (a beta-blocker). Neither of these classes of drugs will cause eyelash growth.

 

Bottom line: don't self-medicate. Get your medications from a reputable doctor and you will get the right medication for the right indication.

 

Depends on why you lost the lashes. Latisse works great for most people who have healthy hair follicles with an existing lash. There are a number of conditions i.e. lupus, skin cancer of the eyelid, and alopecia where the eyelash may not return. If you plucked the lashes by accident (and you do not have a bad habit of grasping the lashes and repeatedly plucking them), they they should return and Latisse can help them grow longer, thicker and darker. However, if those lashes just started disappearing and you're not sure why, then I would suggest you see an ophthalmologist (not optometrist) or and oculo-plastic surgeon to get to the bottom of why you lost the lashes. 

 

 

You have developed myokymia of the eyelids. The most common causes of eyelid myokymia are fatigue, stress, insomnia, excessive caffeine intake AND dry eyes. Can Latisse cause this? Absolutely. Latisse applied to the eyelashes will seep into the tear film. There, it can cause the eyes to become red, burn, itch and feel dry. The dryness can cause myokymia or an eyelid twitch. Most ophthalmologists would recommend artificial tears 3-4x's/day. If that didn't resolve the issue a more complete eye exam would be required.

 

Latisse is a topical prostaglandin, a powerful drug originally created to treat glaucoma. Ideally, it should be prescribed by ophthalmologists. Thanks to one of its main SIDE EFFECTS, eye lash growth, many dermatologists and plastic surgeons find themselves prescribing it with little experience using this class of drug on or around the eyes.

I have used Lumigan (same as Latisse) directly on the eye for the treatment of thousands of glaucoma patients. I have not seen discoloration of the white of the eye in any of them. Some have developed darkening of the lids and peri-ocular area. This is considered a reversible side effect when the medication is discontinued. It can make the white of the eye look red, sometimes very red. This is called hyperemia. Again, this will resolve in most patients over a few weeks, but discontinuation is sometimes recommended if it bothers the patient. 

 

 

 

After 2 months of using Latisse, you'll be the best judge of what your lashes look like. Are they longer, thicker, and darker? I have not seen peoples eyelashes "look horrible" or "all fall out". When used correctly, Latisse does an excellent job enhancing eyelash growth with minimal risk of side effects. I have not seen or spoken to any patients who have used Idol Lash and there are no studies comparing the two. If you do give it a try, I would love to hear how it worked for you.