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Key takeaways
Generic Lumigan is FDA-approved and sold as bimatoprost 0.01%.
Brand-name and generic Lumigan are equally effective, but the manufacturers, costs, packaging, and, potentially, inactive ingredients differ.
Generic Lumigan offers significant cost savings.
Lumigan (bimatoprost) is a brand-name prescription eye drop solution used to treat high intraocular pressure (IOP) in people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. This medication, classified as a prostaglandin analog (PGA), is also sometimes used off-label for eyelash and eyebrow growth.
Like most brand-name medications, Lumigan can be expensive. Fortunately, a generic ophthalmic solution with the same ingredient, dosage, and FDA-approved use became available in 2025.
Lumigan generic availability |
|
|---|---|
| Generic name | Bimatoprost |
| FDA approval date of the generic version | September 2025 |
| Is there a generic available for sale in the U.S.? | Yes |
What are the differences between generic and brand-name Lumigan?
Generic Lumigan is available under the same name as its active ingredient, bimatoprost. Prescription bimatoprost ophthalmic solution 0.01%, the same formulation as Lumigan, hit U.S. pharmacy shelves in 2025. Before that, bimatoprost was available in an FDA-approved 0.03% formulation, which is also used for eyelash growth. To treat glaucoma and high eye pressure, either .01% or .03% drops may be prescribed.
As an approved generic, bimatoprost 0.01% has the same dosage form, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics, and intended use as brand-name Lumigan. That means possible side effects, such as eye irritation, eye redness, dry eyes, and eyelash changes, are also the same. Research comparing generic and brand-name PGAs for glaucoma also found no statistically significant differences.
Minor differences between brand-name and generic Lumigan may include:
- The manufacturer. Allergan, Inc., an AbbVie company, makes Lumigan. Generic Lumigan could be made by multiple drug manufacturers.
- Cost. Generic drugs, including eye drops, typically cost less than brand-name drugs.
- Inactive ingredients. Both brand-name and generic Lumigan are clear, colorless, sterile solutions. However, they may have differing amounts of the preservative benzalkonium chloride.
- Packaging. Generic and brand-name packaging, from the box to the label on the bottle itself, may have different logos, fonts, or colors.
Ultimately, there is very little difference between generic and brand-name Lumigan. “Patients may notice differences in packaging, but the medication works the same,” says Sanjay Kamat, DO, an Arizona-based, board-certified ophthalmologist and member of the American Osteopathic Board of Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology.
Bottom line: Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re interested in switching from Lumigan to its brand-name counterpart.
How much does generic Lumigan cost?
Lumigan comes in one dosage strength: 0.01% bimatoprost. Generic bimatoprost is sold in either 0.01% or 0.03% formulations to treat glaucoma (Bimatoprost 0.03% is also the generic for Latisse, which is FDA-approved to treat thinning eyelashes.) Given that, patients interested in switching from brand-name to generic Lumigan should pay attention to the percentage listed on the label.
The average price of brand-name Lumigan is $362 for 2.5, 0.01% solution (0.1 mg/mL). Cash payers can pay as little as $40 for a 5-pack of the 0.01% solution (0.1 mg/mL) by using SingleCare coupons or a SingleCare discount card at Kroger.
An important note: Brand-name and generic prescription eye drop prices may vary based on insurance coverage, pharmacy, and location.
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Is Lumigan covered by insurance?
Insurance coverage can significantly lower the out-of-pocket cost of any brand-name or generic prescription drug. The good news is that Dr. Kamat says PGAs like Lumigan are the “top choice” for treating high eye pressure, so many insurance plans do cover it. Lumigan is usually covered by commercial insurance plans, Medicare Part D, and Medicare if it is considered medically necessary.
Glaucoma patients without insurance coverage for Lumigan or bimatoprost may still be able to save by shopping around at different pharmacies or switching to different generic prostaglandin analog eye drops.
How do you get Lumigan covered by insurance?
The first step to finding out whether your insurance covers Lumigan or its generic version is to check the drug formulary, a list of preferred drugs covered by the plan. In some cases, Lumigan may be covered outright. In other situations, your plan may require prior authorization, which is documented proof from your prescriber that the treatment is medically necessary.
“Your insurance will likely cover glaucoma drops,” assures Anthea Nwandu, MD, a double board-certified internist and lifestyle medicine provider in Maryland. “But they may require us [prescribers] to start with a preferred, lower-cost option first. If that doesn’t work or causes side effects, we can justify switching.”
Generic alternatives to Lumigan
Lumigan is not the only FDA-approved treatment for high intraocular pressure. Dr. Kumat says he prefers selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) therapy as a first-line treatment because it reduces the need for costly daily eye drops. Laser therapy may also be more convenient for contact lens wearers.
For those who do need a daily eye drop treatment, alternatives to brand-name Lumigan or generic bimatoprost include other prostaglandin eye solutions such as:
Non-PGA generic alternatives to Lumigan include timolol maleate and brimonidine.
As mentioned above, generic bimatoprost is also prescribed for eyelash growth. In general, bimatoprost 0.01% is prescribed for high eye pressure, and bimatoprost 0.03% is prescribed for eyelash growth, although .03% drops may sometimes be used for high eye pressure as well.
Bottom line: Lumigan is an effective treatment for ocular hypertension, but as a brand-name prescription eye solution, it is expensive. Fortunately, a lower-cost generic Lumigan is now available. If you’re interested in switching from brand-name Lumigan to generic Lumigan, or from a different glaucoma treatment to generic Lumigan, seek medical advice from a healthcare professional who knows your medical history, health conditions, and any other medications.
- Amneal receives U.S. FDA approval for bimatoprost ophthalmic solution, 0.01%, Amneal Pharmaceuticals (2025)
- Bimatoprost solution/drops, DailyMed (2025)
- Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA), Food and Drug Administration (2025)
- Generics versus brand-named drugs for glaucoma: the debate continues, Romanian Journal of Ophthalmology (2020)
- Highlights of prescribing information: Lumigan (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.01%, for topical ophthalmic use, Food and Drug Administration (2022)
- Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT), Glaucoma Research Foundation (n.d.)
- Bimatoprost in dermatology, Indian Dermatology Online Journal (2018)
- Highlights of prescribing information: Latisse (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03%, for topical ophthalmic use, Food and Drug Administration (2021)
- Bimatoprost ophthalmic solution, StatPearls (2024)
- Bimatoprost 0.03% preservative-free ophthalmic solution versus bimatoprost 0.03% ophthalmic solution (Lumigan) for glaucoma or ocular hypertension: a 12-week, randomized, double-masked trial, BMP Open Access (2013)