Could a new eyelash-lengthening drug curb the envy of stubby-lashed ladies? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has green-lighted Latisse, which lengthens, thickens and darkens eyelashes when dabbed daily on the lash line on the lids with a disposable wand.

The med, called Latisse, should be available by March from a doctor or with a prescription from one. Price tag: $120 for a month’s supply. According to manufacturer Allergan, the drug usually nets results two to four months after users start it. Potential side effects: Some 4 percent of users experience eye itching and redness, and it may also temporarily darken the skin of the eyelid, according to the company.
 
The active ingredient in Latisse is bimatoprost, a compound derived from fatty acids that bind to receptors in the eyelashes that may be involved in the development and re-growth of hair follicles. Allergan has used bimatoprost since 2001 in Lumigan, an Rx eye drop that lowers eye pressure in people with glaucoma. (Glaucoma is a disease that may cause vision loss from damage to the optic nerve if too much pressure builds up in the eye.)

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