Bimatoprost is a medicine you’ll see used two main ways: as eye drops to lower pressure in glaucoma or ocular hypertension, and as a topical treatment to make eyelashes grow fuller and darker. Both work on similar eye tissues, but the dose and how you apply them differ. Knowing the right routine and risks keeps treatment effective and safe.
If you have the eye-drop version for glaucoma or high eye pressure, it’s usually one drop in the affected eye once daily, often in the evening. For eyelash growth (the product sold as Latisse), you apply a tiny drop to a sterile applicator and brush it along the upper eyelid margin once nightly—only on the upper lid, never into the eye itself.
Practical tips: wash your hands, tilt your head back, keep the dropper or applicator from touching your skin or eye, and close your eye for a minute after putting drops in. If you wear soft contact lenses, remove them before using drops and wait at least 15 minutes before putting them back in. Always follow your prescriber’s instructions or the product label.
Expect some mild irritation, redness, or dryness at first. With long-term use, bimatoprost can darken the iris (permanent in some cases) or darken eyelid skin where the product touches. Lashes may grow longer and darker—which is the goal when used cosmetically—but that change can also occur unevenly.
Serious problems are rare but real. Stop using it and call your doctor if you have severe eye pain, sudden vision changes, persistent redness, or breathing or chest issues after use. Tell your eye doctor about all other eye medicines you’re using; spacing different eye drops 5–10 minutes apart helps avoid interactions.
Pregnant or breastfeeding? Talk to your healthcare provider. Most cosmetic uses are studied in adults, so check with a doctor before giving it to younger people.
Buying online: only buy from licensed pharmacies. Bimatoprost is a prescription medicine in most places, so trustworthy sites will ask for a prescription. Watch out for sites that sell it without one or offer suspiciously low prices. Check for clear contact info, pharmacy license numbers, secure checkout, and real customer reviews.
Storage and disposal are simple: keep the bottle capped and stored at room temperature away from direct heat, and throw it out after the expiration date. Don’t share your bottle with anyone else to avoid spreading infection.
If your eye pressure stays high, your vision changes, or you notice unwanted long-term color changes, see your eye doctor. Bimatoprost can be very effective, but using it the right way and under medical guidance gives the best results with the least risk.
