Doctors prescribe Xalatan eye drops, or the generic latanoprost, to lower eye pressure in people with glaucoma. Typically, the doctor instructs the patient to use the drops once a day in the evening. For many people, the drops lower the pressure without damaging side effects. Other people, however, may have side effects that prevent continued use. If a doctor prescribes Xalatan eye drops, the patient should know the common side effects in order to determine if using the medication is the right choice for her eyes.
Irritation
People who use Xalatan commonly experience irritation says the Xalatan website. The surface of the eye may sting or burn and the eyes may turn red, especially after continued use. Irritation may also cause the surface of the eyes to dry out, and this may intensify the surface irritation. Using an artificial tear 5 minutes prior to using the Xalatan drop may relieve the initial stinging. If discomfort worsens, discuss the irritation with an eye doctor to determine if another eye drop may cause less discomfort.
Pigmentation
Xalatan may change eye color, says MedlinePlus, a website of the National Institutes of Health. This does not happen immediately, but with long-term use the iris will darken to a deep brown. Once the eye color changes, stopping the drops will not usually return the iris to its natural color. Since eye drops also touch the eyelids, some people also experience subtle skin color changes from Xalatan eye drops. The discoloration does not result from irritation, but from the same reaction that causes the eye color to change. If a person uses the drop in only one eye, the color change will occur in just one eye.
Eyelashes
In routine use of Xalatan, eyelashes grow longer and thicker. This change happens gradually, and may also result in darker eyelashes. For many people, especially women, longer, thicker eyelashes might be a welcome side effect. However, for people who have difficulties with eyelashes that grow in the wrong direction, curling down and into the eye, this side effect might cause considerable irritation to the surface of the eye. If eyelash problems occur, an eye doctor may pull the eyelashes responsible for the irritation or recommend changing medications. However, for some people, the eyelash changes may become permanent.
