- How it’s used
- Applied at home once nightly to the upper lash line only
- Results
- Gradual; the clinical study measured results at 16 weeks
- If you stop
- Lashes gradually return to how they looked before
- Requires
- A medical exam and a prescription
What is Latisse®?
Latisse® (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03% is a prescription eye solution made by Allergan, an AbbVie company. The FDA approved it in 2008 to treat hypotrichosis of the eyelashes, which means having inadequate or not enough lashes. It works by increasing eyelash growth, including length, thickness and darkness.
Who may Latisse help?
Latisse may help people whose upper eyelashes are inadequate or not enough. Because it is a prescription medicine, you need a medical evaluation first, including a review of your eye health and the medicines you use, especially eye-pressure drops. The decision to use it should weigh its warnings, including the possible change in eye color.
If Dr. Shin prescribes Latisse, you can fill the prescription at a pharmacy. It is applied at home and does not involve a procedure.
How to use Latisse
Evaluation and prescription
Your eye health and medicines are reviewed at our Torrance office. If Latisse is right for you, you receive a prescription.
Once nightly at home
Remove contact lenses first. Using a new sterile applicator, apply the solution along the skin of the upper eyelid at the base of the lashes.
Blot and repeat
Blot any extra solution beyond the lash line. Throw the applicator away and use a new sterile applicator for the other eye.
Upper lid only
Do not apply Latisse to the lower lash line. You can put contact lenses back in 15 minutes after applying.
Check in
Growth is gradual. Tell Dr. Shin about eye irritation, a change in eye color or any other concern.
When will I see results?
Lashes grow gradually. In the clinical study, results were measured at 16 weeks: 78% of people using Latisse improved by at least one grade on an eyelash rating scale, compared with 18% of people using an inactive solution. Results vary from person to person. According to the label, applying it more than once a night will not increase eyelash growth.
The effect lasts only while you keep using Latisse as prescribed. If you stop, your lashes are expected to gradually return to how they looked before treatment.
Latisse at a glance
- Every night — Applied at home to the upper lash line
- Gradually — Lashes grow in length, thickness and darkness
- 16 weeks — When results were measured in the clinical study
- If you stop — Lashes gradually return to how they looked before
Side effects and important warnings
- Eye color: Latisse may cause brown darkening of the colored part of the eye (the iris). This change is likely permanent.
- Eyelid skin: The skin of the eyelid may darken. This may go away after you stop.
- Unwanted hair: Hair can grow on skin that the solution often touches, so blot away any extra.
- Irritation: Common side effects include itchy eyes and eye redness.
- Eye pressure medicines: Latisse may interfere with eye-pressure (glaucoma) medicines. If you use or have used them, use Latisse only under a doctor’s care.
- Infection: Use each applicator only once, and keep the bottle tip and applicator from touching anything else, to avoid contamination.
Who should not use Latisse, or should talk to Dr. Shin first
Do not use Latisse if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
Tell Dr. Shin before starting if you:
- use or have used prescription eye-pressure (glaucoma) medicine
- have eye inflammation such as uveitis, have had eye surgery, or have risk factors for swelling in the back of the eye (macular edema)
- wear contact lenses
- are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding
Latisse is for the upper lash line only. The label says not to apply it to the lower lash line, and it is not approved for eyebrows.
Common questions
How long does Latisse take to work?
Lash growth is gradual. In the clinical study, results were measured at 16 weeks, so plan on using Latisse nightly as prescribed for several months before judging how it works for you. Results vary from person to person, and the effect lasts only while you keep using it.
What happens if I stop using Latisse?
If you stop, your eyelashes are expected to gradually return to how they looked before treatment. Eyelid skin darkening may also fade after stopping. Darkening of the colored part of the eye, if it has happened, is likely to stay. Tell Dr. Shin about any eye changes you notice.
Can Latisse change my eye color?
It can. Latisse may cause brown darkening of the colored part of the eye (the iris), and this change is likely permanent. The eyelid skin can also darken, which may go away after stopping. Tell Dr. Shin right away if you notice a change in your eye color.
Can I use Latisse if I wear contact lenses?
Yes, with care. Remove your contact lenses before applying Latisse. According to the label, you can put them back in 15 minutes after applying. Tell Dr. Shin that you wear contacts, and mention any eye irritation, redness or other eye problems during treatment.
Can I get Latisse without a prescription?
No. Latisse is a prescription medicine, so you need a medical evaluation and a prescription first. Your eye health and the medicines you use, especially eye-pressure drops, are reviewed before a prescription is written. If Dr. Shin prescribes it, you can fill the prescription at a pharmacy.
I use glaucoma eye drops. Can I use Latisse?
Talk with Dr. Shin before starting. Latisse may interfere with how well eye-pressure (glaucoma) medicines lower eye pressure. The manufacturer advises that people who use or have used prescription eye-pressure medicines use Latisse only under a doctor’s care. Tell your eye doctor as well.
Important information
- Prescription only: Latisse® (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03% is FDA-approved to treat hypotrichosis of the eyelashes. It is available only after an exam and prescription, and it has important warnings, including possible darkening of eye color that is likely permanent.
- Important: If you develop a new eye problem, such as an eye injury or infection, a sudden drop in vision, eye surgery, or an eye or eyelid reaction such as pink eye, contact Dr. Shin right away for advice about whether to keep using Latisse.
Sources & further reading
- LATISSE (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03% Prescribing Information (opens in a new tab) — NIH National Library of Medicine, DailyMed
- LATISSE approval letter, NDA 22-369 (2008) (opens in a new tab) — U.S. Food & Drug Administration
- LATISSE official site and Important Safety Information (opens in a new tab) — Allergan, an AbbVie company
Last updated October 2026. This page is educational and does not replace a visit with a clinician.
