Going to Great Lengths For Long Lashes

By drodriguez Jan 28, 2009

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

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Comments

by tigpooh1516 | GREENWOOD, IN

Feb 04, 2009

I would not want to use the medicine that close to my eye and I definately don't like the side affects. No thanks, I'll pass.

by ny2326 | Huntingdon Valley, PA

Feb 04, 2009

I have never had long eye lashes but always have longed for them, in fact i have such small thin eye lashes i result to fake ones all the time. I would do this definitely! it scares me a little that the medication is so close to your eye but i guess that would be the only way, it's a little expensive though and i would hope that it would be significant enough to be worth it.

by carley222433 | Fairfield Twp, OH

Feb 03, 2009

That would be awesome, I love long lashes, is sounds expensive, but would be well worth it! But I don't like the idea of having to be drugged to get longer lashes, something that I would have to give alot of thought to.

by sarahnahary | los angeles, CA

Feb 03, 2009

Wow thats pretty cool. I'd love to try it, althouhg its a bit expensive, its worth it!!

by kat9322 | charlotte, NC

Feb 03, 2009

I wouldn't use medicine to get longer lashes - I would try new mascaras until I found the one that worked or I would use fake eyelashes.

by wormwood | Media, PA

Feb 03, 2009

I can't wait to try it!. Yes, it's expensive but all of the reviews I've read indicate that it does work. My eyelashes are blond and sparce so I spend a fortune on mascara, false lashes for special occasions, and eyeliners, not to mention all the time it takes to apply them.

by salome | Houston, TX

Feb 03, 2009

I might give it a try if it were cheaper.

by minari | SCARSDALE, NY

Feb 03, 2009

is our economy actually tanking? what kind of country are we living in? barring a preexisting medical condition, I have other ways to spend that money.

by starsoccer_girl13 | Saint Petersburg, FL

Feb 02, 2009

I believe they are going too far as well, not everyone can afford to spend that much. Why not buy a tube of mascara for less than ten dollars?

by southern_coder | HUNTSVILLE, AL

Feb 02, 2009

Goodness! I think we are going too far, to accept a serious side effect just for longer eyelashes. It makes them grow so long that you have to trim them? That's just not even natural! (of course, that's what we are always striving for, right ladies? The beautiful un-natural look?) That's what mascara is for!

by hairs2u | Lowell, MA

Feb 02, 2009

I would be interested in this. It sounds great I am always looking to make my lashes thicker and more full. I am just wondering the side affects???? There is always something that pops up later.

by ShabbyChic | Napa, CA

Feb 01, 2009

this sounds great, but I hate trying new things like this because there could be other side effects. It would be weird to trim your eyelashes too!!

by k_to_the_t | Omaha, NE

Jan 30, 2009

I wonder what criteria doctors will have for prescribing it. Do you just tell them you want longer lashes? Or do you have to have some kind of noticeable lash loss/thinning? I think a ton of women who have normal lashes would want this just as much (if not more) than those who actually need it.

by RadioGirl87 | NORTH AUGUSTA, SC

Jan 30, 2009

I can't imagine wanting to pay this much money for longer eyelashes. Maybe it's because I've always used mascara, and that works great for me. It just seems a little crazy to be so obsessed with having longer eye lashes. It definitely seems our society is nothing but beauty obsessed... What is this teaching the younger generations?

by msfriendly | MONROE, WI

Jan 30, 2009

No Thanks! We are a "beauty obsessed" society...thanks to the media. Why do we feel that we have to be better....more beautiful to be happyand accepted???