Adults who want eyelashes which are thicker and longer can use a prescription eye drug which is originally made to treat glaucoma said the US advisory panel on Friday. Manufactured by Allergan Inc, the Botox maker, this drug was found to produce the side effect of an unusual eyelash growth while being used for relief in eye pressure. An approval is being sought now by the company in US to market this product for the new found purpose under the name Latisse.
This drug was used under the name Lumigan for glaucoma. Over the years, these drops were found to boost growth of eyelashes according to outside advisor’s report at a meeting of the Food and Drug Administration panel.
According to a University of Colorado ophthalmologist and a panelist M. Roy Wilson, there is no reason why we should question this efficacy. According to him clinical trials with this drug did not show any serious side effects.
Certain panelists were however skeptical about using this drug on a long basis especially on minorities and blacks term. According to the company, unless the drops are applied on a regular basis on the lashes, they will shrink back to their original size.
Another point raised by the panelists was that even though the drug is only available on prescription, there are chances of misuse by teenagers and other people. There are no validating data on any trial with patients who are younger than 18. Allergan must be insisted upon by the FDA to collect sufficient data after release of the drug in the market according to a majority of the panelists.
