FDA Seizes Unapproved, Potentially Harmful Cosmetic Eye Product

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that Age Intervention Eyelash, a product touted by its manufacture (Jan Marini Skin Research, Inc., a San Jose, California company) to increase eyelash growth, actually has the potential to damage consumers' eyes. The FDA press release sates that Unites States Marshals confiscated 12,682 applicator Age Intervention Eyelash tubes. The value of these seized products come to around $2 million.

The news release reports Age Intervention Eyelash was never approved by the FDA. Furthermore, the FDA also considers the product "misbranded," as Jan Marini Skin Research advertises Age Intervention Eyelash as able to boost eyelash growth, which is a medically unapproved claim. The FDA says that all legally marketed drugs must be approved by the FDA. FDA approval happens upon the tested drug being deemed by the agency as both safe and effective.

The FDA statement indicates Age Intervention Eyelash can actually cause decreased vision in some users. This risk is of noted concern for those who use both Age Intervention Eyelash and a prescription medicine called bimatoprost, which is an FDA-approved drug that is used to help treat cases of increased intraocular pressure (described in the press release as "elevated pressure inside the eye"). Because Age Intervention Eyelash also contains bimatoprost, the eyelash product could potentially decrease the effectiveness of the prescription drug. Therefore, patients who are taking bimatoprost to combat elevated intraocular pressure may see this condition worsen and suffer optic nerve damage as a result. Optic nerve damage can cause decreased vision and, potentially, even blindness. Other harmful affects that Age Intervention Eyelash use may cause in some individuals are macular edema (which is swelling of the retina) and uveitis, which is an inflammation in the eye that can eventually cause a decrease in vision.