Lumigan (bimatoprost) eye drops cost from around £12–£22 per bottle or pack on a private prescription in the UK in 2026, or the standard NHS prescription charge where prescribed on the NHS. Generic bimatoprost costs less than the Lumigan brand. Because glaucoma drops must be monitored for life, the more meaningful cost is the consultant assessment — a private glaucoma consultation with eye-pressure check, OCT and a visual field test typically costs from £200–£350, with follow-up reviews from around £150.
How much do Lumigan (bimatoprost) drops cost?
Bimatoprost is a low-cost medication. What you pay depends on whether it is prescribed on the NHS or privately, and whether you use the Lumigan brand or generic bimatoprost:
For the wider picture of private glaucoma pricing, see our glaucoma cost guide. Regular visual field testing is part of proper monitoring — drops without follow-up is not glaucoma treatment.
What is Lumigan and how does it work?
Lumigan is a brand of bimatoprost, a prostaglandin analogue — the same first-line family as latanoprost and travoprost. Used as one drop in the affected eye each evening, it lowers intraocular pressure by increasing the outflow of fluid from the eye. Prostaglandin analogues are the most effective drop class available, typically reducing eye pressure by around a quarter to a third, and are recommended first-line in UK practice.
In the UK, Lumigan is supplied as a preserved multi-dose bottle (0.1 mg/ml), with preservative-free single-dose bimatoprost preparations also licensed for patients with sensitive or dry eyes. Your prescriber will advise which format suits your eyes — preservative-free versions cost a little more but are kinder to the ocular surface for long-term use.
Glaucoma itself causes no symptoms until vision is lost, which is why treatment is lifelong and monitoring matters as much as the medication. New to the condition? Start with our overview of glaucoma and the treatment pathway.
Side effects worth knowing about
- Red eyes (conjunctival hyperaemia) — the most common effect, and more frequent with bimatoprost than with latanoprost. It often settles with continued use, but persistent redness is a common reason to switch drops.
- Longer, darker eyelashes — characteristic of the prostaglandin class.
- Gradual darkening of the iris and skin around the eye — usually permanent, most noticeable in hazel or mixed-colour eyes.
- Deepening of the eyelid sulcus with long-term use — subtle hollowing around the eye that reverses partially if the drop is stopped.
None of these affect the pressure-lowering benefit, but if side effects bother you, don't simply stop — untreated pressure silently damages the optic nerve. Speak to your specialist about switching preparation or moving to a drop-free option.
Struggling with drop side effects — or just tired of daily drops? A consultant review can rebalance your treatment, or assess you for SLT laser.
Book a consultant reviewAlternatives to Lumigan
If bimatoprost alone doesn't control your pressure, or doesn't suit you, the usual next steps are:
- Another prostaglandin — such as preservative-free latanoprost (Monopost) or travoprost (Travatan).
- A combination drop — Ganfort pairs bimatoprost with timolol in a single daily drop when one agent isn't enough.
- SLT laser — selective laser trabeculoplasty is a 10-minute outpatient laser that can control pressure without daily drops, and is now offered as a first-line option in UK practice.
For a plain-English comparison of the whole ladder — drops, laser and surgery — read our guide to glaucoma treatment options.