Latisse Reviews: Side Effects, Benefits, Risks, and More

If Latisse is something you are interested in, then I hope that by reading this review, you will be better informed about Latisse, and you will be able to speak to an eye doctor about whether or not you are a good candidate for starting it. You should take this seriously, and be sure to regularly have your eyes checked if you choose to use this product. Sold as a liquid solution, Latisse(r) is simple and effective, making it a great choice if you are unhappy with how your eyelashes look. Like other eye medications, Latisse may cause irritation if you apply it using improperly cleaned equipment or without washing your face and hands first.   

The active ingredients in Latisse may cause inflammation, and preservatives in Latisse may lead to dry eye symptoms. Eye irritation or dry eyes may be side effects of using Latisse regularly, which may cause additional vision complications. Red eyes, itchy sensations on the application site, eye irritation, and eye dryness are some of the common side effects from using LATISSE. Doing this increases your risk that Latisse solution will get in your eyes and cause side effects.    

Care must be taken to avoid getting any extra Latisse into your eyes, around your eyes, or at your lower lid margins, because doing so can result in undesirable side effects (more on that below). Once Latisse is applied in the treated area, tissues should be used to make a patch around the eyes to keep this from happening. If Latisse(r) is applied using a sterile applicator brush, only a tiny amount may ever touch the eyes.    

Applying LATISSE beyond your fine upper eyelash line may result in increased hair growth in this area, so make sure you only apply the medicine to the recommended areas of your skin. Other side effects of LATISSE include hair growth on other areas of skin that are often touched by the drug, as well as brown discoloration of the colored part of your eyes (iris) when using it for months or years at a time. Latisse has other possible side effects, including unwanted hair growth and possible permanent changes in eye color.    

Other less common side effects can include allergic reactions, dry eyes, blackening of eyelid skin, darker eyesight (colored parts of your eyes), and unintended hair growth in areas that are often exposed to Latisse. Latisse can cause a brown tinge to the colored part of your eyes that is probably permanent, or it can cause skin darkening on your eyelids that can be reversible. Increased eye pigmentation is uncommon, and usually occurs when bimatoprost enters the eye, either by direct application or accidental exposure during the application of Latisse(r).    

There are possible side effects of using Latisse (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) for the purpose of increasing the growth of the eyelashes. Latisse is also thought to improve the size of eyelash roots and to encourage pigment production processes. According to the products official website, Latisse is thought to influence the anagen stage of the eyelash hair cycle. Latisse extends four phases per eyelash, increasing the amount of hairs that are in anagen at any given moment.    

The effects of Latisse in extending eyelash growth phases last only for the duration that Latisse is applied. With regular applications along the upper lash line, Latisse by name, slowly encourages longer, thicker, darker eyelashes to grow. Used every day at the usual dosage, Latisse(r) is an effective treatment for eyelash hypotrichosis, a condition causing insufficient growth of eyelashes.    

The science behind Latisse has been evaluated by FDA and found to be safe and effective at growing eyelashes. Some studies suggest that Latisse can improve the growth of eyebrows as well, but for this purpose, Latisse is not approved by the FDA yet (Barron-Hernandez, 2017). Researchers do not know exactly how Latisse enhances eyelash growth, but they believe that Latisse can extend the growing stage of the hair cycle (Fagien, 2010 ). Although some anecdotal success stories of people using off-label Latisse for eyebrows do exist, there is not enough evidence to suggest that doctors should recommend it.    

Unfortunately, if you discontinue using Latisse, it is very possible that your eyebrows may revert back to their previous look, anywhere from several weeks to months after stopping the drug (Allergan, 2014). While it is true that if you completely stop using Latisse(r), your eyelashes will slowly revert back to their usual length, thickness, and color, just one days absence of using the drug has no impact on your eyelashes. Your ophthalmologist can discuss the risks and benefits of using Latisse for eyelash growth and appearance enhancement.    

Liz Serge from AllAboutVision suggests talking with an eye doctor about current tear production and how any pre-existing conditions, such as dry eyes, might worsen with Latisse. Because Latisse contains a component that reduces eye pressure, those using medications for glaucoma or other medications that reduce pressure in the eyes should check with their eye doctor regularly when using Latisse. Combining Latisse with glaucoma medications, especially Bimatoprost eye drops, can have unpredictable results for eye pressure. In people with early-stage glaucoma or other conditions that increase fluid pressure in the eyes, the LUMIGEN eye drops can reduce some intraocular pressure (IOP); however, using LATISSE at the same time can trigger a reaction between both medications, since they share the same active ingredients.    

There is a small risk of macular edema associated with LATISSE, because the medicine may change the fluid pressure inside your eyes. There are also a number of risks and side effects associated with LATISSE, ranging from darker eyelids and irises, decreased intraocular pressure, and increased irritation. If the patient is already using prostaglandin analogues, Latisse can interfere with their treatment for low eye pressure.