Eyelash enhancement treatment

Eyelash enhancement treatment is the use of a liquid brushed onto the eyelashes to increase the thickness, darkness and length of them.

The effect of this is to make them look stronger and more prominent. There are other treatments that can enhance eyelashes, but they are more normally listed under their specific treatment names. When might eyelash enhancement treatment be necessary?

There are certain specific conditions that might lead to a desire to enhance the eyelashes. A side effect of chemotherapy can be hair loss and this can extend to the eyelashes. This can also be true of radiation therapies.

A certain weakness of hair growth can be associated with the menopause, so this could be another reason for eyelash enhancement treatment. The most common and likely need for enhancement is simply the desire to have stronger and more emphatic eyelashes.

Eyelash enhancement is simply a method of achieving that effect. That is, the requirement for eyelash enhancement is usually that it is desired.

There is a condition called hypotrichosis which is when the eyelashes are small or underdeveloped and the treatment and drug regime is the same for this.

However, this is rare and the major reason for eyelash enhancement is cosmetic or, as it is better known, because it is desired.

The specific drug used is normally used to treat glaucoma and is applied in a different manner for eyelash use. This is an off-label use of an existing medication.

Off-label uses of an existing medication are common and those proven in one treatment are often used in other branches of medicine. Here the observation was that those being treated for glaucoma were developing stronger and thicker eyelashes.

The original development was as a drug to treat glaucoma, excessive pressure in the eye, and it works well at reducing this. The safety of the drug has already been proven in the tests for its use against glaucoma. The application method is to brush the drops onto the upper eyelash root once nightly before bed and then wait.

It takes up to four months to start to see results, perhaps three, but the result is usually those longer, thicker and darker – all making them more prominent – eyelashes. The process of treatment is that the consultant will prescribe the drug for you, then discuss the correct application method.

It is not recommended to apply it to the lower eyelashes and care should be taken to keep it out of the eye itself. Not because it would be particularly harmful but because we do know it reduces pressure in the eye and that is not what is intended.

The recommended application method is last thing at night as part of the general end of the day routine. Apply the liquid to the upper lashes and allow the natural movement of the eyelid to transfer some to the lower lashes.

You should do this when the entire face is clear of make up and contact lenses, if any, are out.

The initial consultation is just a discussion, so there is no recovery time needed from the process. The treatment itself is a daily application of the liquid to the eyelashes.

This takes moments once it has been done a few times. It is possible that a small amount will enter the eye. This is one reason for the end of the day application routine.

Amounts in the eye might cause blurred vision for a time and curtail daytime activities. Another meaning of recovery time from eyelash enhancement treatment is when will the eyelashes be enhanced?

Usually after three months of daily applications there will be notable improvement. It is important to note that the treatment must be continued on a long term basis to maintain the effect.

The eyelash enhancement lasts as long as the serum application is continued.

If the treatment ceases then the eyelashes will return to their previous state. It is also possible to call it a reversible treatment as the effects cease and return to the starting position once treatment stops.

There are few risks associated with application of the medication of an eyelash enhancement agent. It is possible to have blurry vision immediately after application.

There are certain eye conditions which mean you should not use it – conjunctivitis, macular edema for example - and your consultant will ensure none of these are an issue for you before prescribing.

Severe allergies and certain other treatments for ocular hypertension might also rule out use. There is however one more significant issue to consider. It is known that if the drug is used to treat glaucoma this may change the colour of the iris.

Of course, the aim is to add the treatment to the eyelashes, not any other part of the eye. This may not be perfectly done every time. This is a rare problem but something to be considered. It is not a problem for blue eyes as they are defined by the absence of melanin in the iris.

But green eyes might darken toward hazel and then brown, hazel to brown and brown eyes might darken again. This is something your consultant will discuss with you. The most common side effect - occurring in about 4% of cases – is an allergy to the drug used.

This is fully reversible as the solution is just ceasing to use the drug. It is also recommended that the treatment not be used during pregnancy or breast feeding. Not because of known effects, rather because insufficient research has been done.