bimatoprost at a glance
Medicine class
Prostamide; classified clinically with prostaglandin analogue eye treatments.
Main uses
Raised pressure inside the eye and chronic open-angle glaucoma in adults.
Contact lenses
Remove soft lenses before using preserved drops and follow the product leaflet before reinserting them.
What is bimatoprost used for?
The selected products are licensed for adults to reduce elevated pressure inside the eye.
Chronic open-angle glaucoma.
Ocular hypertension.
Use alone or as an adjunct to topical beta-blockers.
How does bimatoprost work?
Bimatoprost increases drainage of aqueous humour through the trabecular meshwork and uveoscleral pathway, lowering pressure inside the eye.
bimatoprost preparations and strengths
Eye drops
Route: Ophthalmic
Strengths: 0.1 mg/mL, 0.3 mg/mL
How to take bimatoprost
Apply only to the eye as instructed by the prescriber and follow the leaflet supplied with the particular bottle.
Wash and dry your hands before handling the drops.
Pull down the lower eyelid to form a pocket and apply the drop without touching the eye, lashes or skin with the container tip, then close the eye.
Wipe away liquid that runs onto the cheek to limit unwanted skin or hair changes.
bimatoprost side effects
Common or expected effects
- Eye redness, irritation, itching or pain.
- Longer or thicker eyelashes.
- Darkening of the iris, which may be permanent.
- Darkening, redness, itching or hair growth around the eye.
- Loss of fat around the eye, which can deepen the eyelid crease or make the eye appear sunken.
- Temporary blurred vision or a sensation of something in the eye.
Get urgent medical advice
- New breathing difficulty or worsening asthma or COPD.
- Severe allergic reaction, including facial or throat swelling or difficulty breathing.
- Markedly worsening vision, which needs prompt assessment because macular oedema has been reported.
bimatoprost in pregnancy
The selected product information advises use during pregnancy only when clearly necessary. The prescriber should review the benefits of pressure control and the limited pregnancy evidence.
bimatoprost while breastfeeding
Human milk transfer is unknown. The selected product information recommends an individual decision about treatment and breastfeeding; discuss the specific product with the prescriber or pharmacist.
bimatoprost interactions
Systemic interactions are unlikely because blood exposure after eye use is very low, but eye treatments can affect one another.
Other prostaglandin or prostamide eye drops, such as latanoprost, tafluprost or travoprost
Using similar agents together may reduce their pressure-lowering effect and requires review and intraocular-pressure monitoring.
Common questions about bimatoprost
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Can bimatoprost change my eye colour?
Yes. It can gradually increase brown pigmentation in the treated iris. The change may be permanent and particularly noticeable when only one eye is treated.
Why can bimatoprost make an eye look sunken?
It can reduce fat around the treated eye, causing a deeper eyelid crease, drooping lid, tighter skin or a sunken appearance. These changes are often mild and may partly or fully reverse after treatment changes.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.