Bimatoprost

Bimatoprost is a prescription eye drop used to treat an eye condition called glaucoma. It is also used to treat a condition called ocular hypertension (higher than normal pressure inside the eye), which can lead to glaucoma, if not treated.

Bimatoprost is also available as a prescription medication used to grow eyelashes, and to make them longer, thicker and darker.

Bimatoprost is a prescription eye drop used to treat glaucoma and ocular hypertension (higher than normal pressure inside the eye), a risk factor for glaucoma. 

It is also available in a prescription solution that is approved to grow eyelashes.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Bimatoprost may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Latisse

• Lumigan

Bimatoprost may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• itchy eyes
• dry eyes
• burning eyes
• eye pain or irritation
• eye tearing
• headaches

Bimatoprost may turn the iris (the colored part of the eye) brown. This change may be permanent. Bimatoprost may also darken the eyelid skin, and cause eyelashes to grow longer and thicker and darken in color. These conditions may be reversible after treatment is stopped. Tell your doctor if you experience these changes.

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following side effects, call your doctor immediately:

• sensitivity to light
• pink eye
• redness or swelling of the eyelid

The most common side effects after using bimatoprost solution to enhance eyelash growth are an itching sensation in the eyes and/or eye redness. This was reported in approximately 4% of patients. This solution may cause other less common side effects which typically occur on the skin close to where the solution is applied, or in the eyes. These include skin darkening, eye irritation, dryness of the eyes, and redness of the eyelids.

This is not a complete list of bimatoprost side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• any other eye drops
• latanoprost (Xalatan)
• tafluprost (Zioptan)

This is not a complete list of bimatoprost drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Bimatoprost may turn the iris (the colored part of the eye) brown. This change may be permanent.

Bimatoprost may also darken the eyelid skin, and cause eyelashes to grow longer and thicker and darken in color. These conditions may be reversible after treatment is stopped. Tell your doctor if you experience these changes. These changes are not harmful, and you can continue treatments if they occur.

Macular edema (swelling of the macula of the eye) has occurred in some people who took bimatoprost. Tell your doctor if you experience vision changes.

Bacterial keratitis (a serious infection of the cornea that can quickly lead to blindness) can occur in people who use eye drops. Sometimes it is caused by accidental contamination of the eye drop bottle by the users, particularly in people who have corneal disease. Prevent contamination. Never touch the tip of the bottle with your eye, hands, or any other surfaces.

Contact lenses should be removed before using bimatoprost and may be reinserted 15 minutes following its administration.

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of bimatoprost there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when using bimatoprost.

Before receiving bimatoprost, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions including if you:

• are allergic to bimatoprost or any other medications
• have inflammation of the eye (uveitis or iritis)
• have a torn or missing lens
• have kidney or liver disease
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all of the medications you take including prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

This medication falls into category C. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if bimatoprost is excreted in human breast milk or if it will harm your nursing baby.

Bimatoprost (for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension) comes as a liquid to instill in the eye. It is usually instilled in the affected eye(s) once a day, in the evening. Use bimatoprost exactly as prescribed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop using bimatoprost without talking to your doctor first.

To instill the eye drops, follow these steps:

• Wash your hands using soap and water.
• Make sure the dropper tip is not chipped or cracked.
• Do not allow dropper tip to contact your eye or any other surface.
• Tilt your head back, pull down the lower lid of your eye with your index finger to form a pocket.
• While looking up, gently squeeze the dropper so that a single drop falls into the pocket made by the lower eyelid. Remove your index finger from the lower eyelid.
• Close your eye for 2 to 3 minutes without blinking or squeezing your eyelids, and tilt your head down as though looking at the floor.
• Place a finger on the tear duct and apply gentle pressure.
• Wipe any excess liquid from your face with a tissue.
• If you are to use more than one drop in the same eye, wait at least 5 minutes before instilling the next drop.
• Replace and tighten the cap on the dropper bottle. Do not wipe or rinse the dropper tip. Keep bottle tightly closed when not in use.
• Wash your hands to remove any medication.

Bimatoprost solution contains benzalkonium chloride, which can be absorbed by soft contact lenses. If you wear contact lenses, remove them before instilling bimatoprost drops and put them back in 15 minutes later.

Bimatoprost (for the growth of eyelashes) comes in a solution that is packaged with 60 sterile, disposable applicators. It is applied once daily at night as follows:

Once nightly, start by ensuring your face is clean, makeup and contact lenses are removed. Remove an applicator from its tray. Then, holding the sterile applicator horizontally, place one drop of bimatoprost on the area of the applicator closest to the tip but not on the tip. Then immediately draw the applicator carefully across the skin of the upper eyelid margin at the base of the eyelashes (where the eyelashes meet the skin) going from the inner part of your lash line to the outer part. Blot any excess solution beyond the eyelid margin. Dispose of the applicator after one use.

Repeat for the opposite upper eyelid margin using a new sterile applicator. This helps minimize any potential for contamination from one eyelid to another.

DO NOT APPLY in your eye or to the lower lid. ONLY use the sterile applicators supplied to apply the product. If you miss a dose, don't try to “catch up.” Just apply it the next evening. 

If any solution gets into the eye proper, it is not expected to cause harm. The eye should not be rinsed.

Don't allow the tip of the bottle or applicator to contact surrounding structures, fingers, or any other unintended surface in order to avoid contamination by common bacteria known to cause infections.

Contact lenses should be removed prior to application and may be reinserted 15 minutes following its administration.

Glaucoma: The recommended dosage is one drop in the affected eye(s) once daily in the evening.

Eyelash growth: The recommended dosage is one application nightly to the skin of the upper eyelid margin at the base of the eyelashes only.

If you use too much bimatoprost call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If bimatoprost is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• Store bimatoprost eye drops at room temperature or between 2° to 25°C (36° to 77°F).
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.