Eyelash Growth#

It is a prescription liquid applied nightly to the upper eyelid lash line. The active ingredient is a prostaglandin analog - a molecule similar to a class of medication originally developed for treating glaucoma. During the development of the glaucoma medication, researchers noticed patients were growing longer, thicker, darker eyelashes as a side effect. That observation led to a cosmetic formulation of the same molecule, applied externally to the lash line rather than as an eye drop, and approved by Health Canada and the US FDA for insufficient or inadequate eyelashes (hypotrichosis).

The medication acts on prostaglandin receptors in the hair follicle. It is thought to:

• Extend the growth (anagen) phase of the eyelash cycle - so each lash grows longer before falling out.
• Increase the number of hairs in the growth phase at any given time - so lashes look thicker.
• Increase pigment production in the follicle - so lashes look darker.

The effect is gradual and develops over 8-16 weeks of consistent nightly use.

You're a good fit if you:

• Are an adult who wants longer, thicker, or darker eyelashes for cosmetic reasons.
• Don't have any of the eye conditions listed in the next section.
• Can commit to nightly application for at least 16 weeks to see the full effect.
• Understand that the effect reverses when you stop using it - lashes will gradually return to baseline over weeks to a few months.

Yes - the original Health Canada and FDA approval is specifically for insufficient or inadequate eyelashes (hypotrichosis). Some patients have sparse lashes from:

• Chemotherapy-related lash loss (typically used after chemotherapy has completed).
• Alopecia areata affecting the eyelashes.
• Trichotillomania (compulsive hair-pulling), as part of broader treatment.
• Naturally sparse lashes.

For most users, the indication is cosmetic - they want fuller lashes. The clinician will assess and prescribe based on your situation.

Do not use this medication if you have:

• Active eye inflammation, infection, or recent eye surgery - wait until your eye is fully healed and your ophthalmologist has cleared you.
• A known allergy to the medication or any component of the formulation.
• Uveitis or other inflammatory eye conditions without input from an ophthalmologist.

Use with caution and ophthalmologist input if you have:

• Glaucoma or are being treated for glaucoma with prostaglandin eye drops. The medication is similar to glaucoma drops and can affect eye pressure. If your glaucoma is being managed, your ophthalmologist should weigh in on whether adding the cosmetic eyelash treatment is appropriate.
• History of macular edema or risk factors for it (e.g., recent cataract surgery, diabetic retinopathy).

Not recommended for:

• Children and adolescents under 18 (not studied in this group).
• During pregnancy and breastfeeding (not enough data to confirm safety; defer until after).

You can use the treatment if you wear contact lenses, but remove your contacts before applying and wait at least 15 minutes before putting them back in. The medication contains a preservative that can be absorbed by soft contact lenses.

• Once a day, at night.
• Clean your face first - remove makeup, any eye creams or oils, and contact lenses.
• Use the supplied sterile applicator (single use). Apply one drop to the applicator and run it along the upper lash line only - just like applying eyeliner. Do not apply to the lower lash line.
• Blot any excess that drips beyond the lash line so it doesn't run onto your cheek.
• Discard the applicator after one eye, then use a new applicator for the other eye. Do not reuse applicators - this is to prevent eye infection.
• Avoid applying directly into the eye or to the lower lash line.
• If you miss a night, just continue the next night - don't double up.

• First visible effects: around 4-8 weeks of consistent nightly use.
• Full effect: around 16 weeks.
• Maintenance: once you reach the result you want, you can continue nightly to maintain it, or reduce to every other night for maintenance. Stopping completely will gradually reverse the effect over weeks to a few months.

Most users see meaningful improvement in lash length, thickness, and darkness by 16 weeks. The magnitude varies between people. Some get a striking effect; others see a more modest improvement.

What it does NOT do:

• It does not change lashes you already have - it works on new lashes growing in.
• It does not create lashes from nothing in areas where there are no follicles.
• It does not affect eyebrows (a separate, off-label use exists for some people but is outside the standard cosmetic prescription).

The treatment maintains lashes only while you keep applying it. After stopping:

• Lashes gradually return to their pre-treatment appearance over several weeks to a few months.
• The change is gradual, not sudden.
• There is no rebound effect (lashes don't get worse than they were before).

Common, usually mild side effects:

• Eyelid skin darkening - the skin around the lash line can become darker (hyperpigmentation). Often reverses after stopping, but may be slow.
• Eye redness, itching, dryness, or irritation - usually mild and may improve with reduced frequency or careful application.
• Burning or stinging on application - common in the first few weeks.

This is a real but rare side effect:

• Risk is highest in people with mixed-coloured (hazel, green-brown) eyes, who already have brown specks in their irises that can expand.
• Lower risk in people with uniformly blue or uniformly brown eyes.
• Eye colour changes are typically permanent and develop slowly over months.
• The risk is much lower with the cosmetic eyelash formulation (which is applied externally) than with the glaucoma eye-drop form (which goes directly into the eye), but it is still a documented possibility.

The clinician will discuss this risk during the consultation, especially if you have hazel or mixed-coloured eyes.

Long-term use of related prostaglandin analogs has been associated with periorbital fat atrophy - a hollowing or sunken appearance around the eyes - particularly with the glaucoma drop form. The cosmetic eyelash formulation has lower exposure and the risk appears lower, but it has been reported. If you notice any change in the appearance of your eyelid contour, stop and consult.

Stop using and consult the clinician (or an ophthalmologist for urgent eye symptoms) if you have:

• Sudden vision changes.
• Significant eye pain or persistent redness.
• Signs of eye infection (yellow discharge, light sensitivity, blurred vision).
• New or worsening eyelid swelling that doesn't settle.

Yes, but:

• Apply the treatment first (on cleaned, dry skin and lash line, ideally at night).
• Wait at least 15-20 minutes before applying any eye makeup.
• Remove makeup gently at the end of the day before re-applying the next night.

Avoid heavy oil-based makeup removers right around the lash line if you can - they can affect how the medication is absorbed.

You can use the treatment alongside extensions, but discuss it with your lash technician. Application is to the lash line skin, not the lashes themselves, so it generally doesn't interfere with extensions or a lash lift. Some patients find their natural lashes become strong enough that they no longer need extensions.

Yes - it is approved for adults regardless of sex.

The treatment is approved for eyelashes only. Some patients ask about off-label use on the eyebrows. Evidence for eyebrow use is more limited and TeleTest's prescription is for the approved use - cosmetic application to the upper lash line.

No. Apply only to the upper lash line. Applying to the lower lash line increases the risk of irritation, pigmentation changes, and unwanted hair growth on the lower lid.

If your dry eyes are mild and managed, yes - but mention this in the consultation. The medication can occasionally worsen dryness symptoms.

Typically the clinician issues a prescription for a 3-month supply initially, with the option to renew if you're tolerating it well and want to continue. Renewals are quick if nothing has changed.

Yes. Many users do this seasonally or around events. The result builds back up again over a similar timeline (8-16 weeks) when you restart.

• The TeleTest consultation fee for the assessment and prescription. Not covered by provincial health plans.
• The medication at your pharmacy - this is a cosmetic prescription and is generally not covered by drug plans. Out-of-pocket cost varies by pharmacy. A typical bottle lasts approximately 1-2 months with consistent nightly use.

Pharmacies vary substantially on price; ask before filling.