Purpose: To report increased eyelid pigmentation as an adverse side effect associated with topical ocular hypotensive lipids in African Americans.
Design: Interventional case series.
Methods: Two African-American patients with open-angle glaucoma are described in whom increased eyelid pigmentation developed 1 month to 5 months after beginning treatment with either latanoprost or bimatoprost.
Results: Latanoprost was discontinued in an African-American patient, and pigmentation gradually diminished by 3 months after cessation of latanoprost. Increased eyelid pigmentation and increased eyelash length were noted in another African-American patient after just 4 weeks on bimatoprost.
Conclusions: An increase in eyelid pigmentation and eyelash growth is a possible complication of topical ocular hypotensive lipid therapy, even in African-American patients. The changes seems to present earlier after bimatoprost treatment then after latanoprost treatment. Cessation of these medications may lead to loss of induced pigmentation.