Lumigan (bimatoprost ophthalmic) eye drops are an FDA-approved ophthalmic solution used to treat cases of high intraocular pressure (IOP) commonly associated with conditions such as open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The medicated eye drops are used once a day to manage IOP levels and prevent further vision loss. Although many people tolerate Lumigan well and experience minimal to no adverse reactions, there are some common and long-term side effects associated with its use.
Common Side Effects
The most common side effects of Lumigan are temporary eye redness, itchy eyes and eyelash growth. Redness generally occurs immediately after use but lasts only a few weeks. Roughly 3 percent of people in a clinical study stopped taking Lumigan because of eye redness; however, redness alone does not necessarily indicate a serious problem. Contact your doctor if you experience itching or pain along with the redness.
Other symptoms that have been reported include increased tear production; burning or dryness of the eye; a feeling that there is something in the eye (scratchiness); eye discharge, pain, or swelling; inflammation of the eye or eyelid; vision changes; severe or persistent eye fatigue; headache, and cold symptoms.
An inflammatory condition known as superficial punctate keratitis may also occur, causing the eyes to become red, watery, and sensitive to light. The development of cataracts-a clouding in the lens of the eye-is another more serious potential side effect of Lumigan use.
Long-term Side Effects
A common and long-term side effect of Lumigan is pigment changes to the eye. Continued use of Lumigan can cause a darkening of eye color (iris), eyelid color, eyelash color and the whites of the eyes. Though the darkening of the eyelids and eyelashes may be reversible with discontinued use of the drop, the darkening of eye color appears to be permanent. At present, there is no scientific data about the long-term effects of Lumigan beyond five years.
Allergic Reaction
Rarely, some people may experience an allergic reaction to Lumigan. Symptoms may include swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue or face, the development of a rash or hives, or itchy, swollen, or watery eyes. If you experience these symptoms, discontinue use of Lumigan immediately and contact your doctor. Sometimes allergic reactions can come on within a few minutes and cause extremely severe symptoms throughout the whole body (called anaphylaxis). If you experience difficulty breathing, wheezing, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, paleness, sweating or loss of consciousness, call 911 right away.
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