When I mentioned Restasis to my eye doctor, he explained to me that it really doesn't work. That I would do better using artificial tear products over the counter. I was surprised that he would just say something like that, he's a very good doctor and has been in practice for a long time. He's in the loop of things and believes that in the end, it doesn't deliver what it promises.
Just wondered what others thought about that.
I'm guessing it works to varying degrees for people. My experience hasn't been great. In conjunction with Plaquenil, flaxseed oil and over the counter drops, I occasionally have tears now but I have no way of knowing if the Restasis itself is doing much. I also had plugs put in first but the damage was already far enough along that they didn't help either (which is why we went to Restasis. It may be holding off further damage but I didn't notice much difference from when I started using it (about 2 years ago)
Hello. Restasis did not work for me at all. Plus the side effects are scary. Sounds like you have an honest doctor 
I have used rest as is for a couple of years and I can tell when I have not used it. Yes lubricated eye drops help, but using both is the best.
I use Restasis twice a day and love it. It doesn’t produce treats for more, but my eyes are lubricated for once. If I miss a couple of days I really feel it. I wasn’t getting the same amount of lubrication with OTC drops as I do with Restasis. I see my eye doc every 6 months, and he said there is a big difference with my eyes since using it. I guess I’m lucky, I don’t notice any side effects with it.
Is he an ophthalmologist? That's who prescribes it for me. It does work! It is very gradual, but as I kept using it over a few weeks it was a huge improvement. I was constantly putting drops in my eye, now I rarely do. It is a great medicine.
Restasis saved my eyes. My first symptom with Sjogrens was my eyes becoming ulcerated. Before we knew what it was the eye doc put me on steroid eye drops which helped a lot, but you can’t stay on those indefinitely. So it went on like this for almost a year and then I got diagnosed finally and got Restasis and it was like a miracle for me. For almost a year my eyes were red and ulcerated and I was about to lose it. I also have upper and lower puncial plugs as well which helps.
Hi,
I just returned from the opthamo and she gave me a sample of a new over the counter vial of eyedrops
made by the company that makes OCuSoft eye wipes. It’s called retaine. I have not tried it yet but it has “serious dry eye relief” written on the box.
Has anyone tried this product yet???
2akital
I have been using Restasis for 3 years and I can't live without it. It has made a huge difference in my over all eye health! I know I need to put my second drops in when my vision becomes blurry. I have not any side effects at all, which for me is highly unusual. I do also use over the counter eye drops at times but compared to the Restasis, they are practically useless.
Take care all,
Bels
bella said:
Is he an ophthalmologist? That's who prescribes it for me. It does work! It is very gradual, but as I kept using it over a few weeks it was a huge improvement. I was constantly putting drops in my eye, now I rarely do. It is a great medicine.
I’ve been using Restasis for a few years and it has made a huge difference! I can’t say that I make tears but my eyes are no longer swollen, red, and dry. I do occasionally have to use some lubricating eye drops but not very often. As far as side effects go, when I first started using them I had a bit of burning but it was nothing bad. (Especially when you consider how much pain we go through on a daily basis with this disease!)
Good luck, I hope you give them a try if you can.
I use it. I also use OcuSci hot compress daily (3-5 mins), Ultra Dry Eye TG (OcuSci) 3 x's a day, and preservative free drops daily as needed. My ophthalmologist recommended the OcuSci products. I have punctal plugs as well. I just had them put in for the second time, as it's been six months since they were first inserted. Some days are better than others.
I used restasis for two years along with plugs, refresh drops and gel at night. I ran out of the restasis about 6 months ago and can not afford my new copay to get more. I wasn’t sure it was working but my eyes have been extremely dry since I stopped. I wake up at night and my eyelids feel like they are stuck to my eye. It is very painful and worse than before I started on all the eye meds. So, I do believe it works. Can’t wait until they come out with a generic!
Tessa, Restasis has a "Rewards" program. It's complicated, and not very straight forward, but may help to get your co-pay down.
Try the hot compress, for sure. If I had to pick one thing that works out of all of the stuff I do, I would say the hot compress feels so good and helps open up the Meibomian glands.
Yeah, the doctor was an ophthalmologist. I would like to learn more about "Retaine" which someone mentioned. Right now the OCT drops are working fine. Once every morning and I'm good. I don't recommend seeing 3D movies though, they strained my eyes and I had to apply again and had head aches. Felt horrid afterwards.
I believe it works…when I started using it I had no problems at all with being dry. In fact, my eye sight got a little clearer. Now that I’m being stubborn and stop taking ALL my meds I see a big difference with my eyes so, I’m thinking about restarting the restasis.
It didn’t work for me at all, all it did was cause major burning I use pilocarpine and artificial tears without preservatives and that has helped me more than anything else.
If you cannot afford it you can call the company directly and they will send a 6 month supply directly to the doctors office for you. They did it for me once. I think they send it to the doctor to avoid fraud. If I remember the doctor had to fill out a few forms to verify I needed it and it was done.
Tessa said:
I used restasis for two years along with plugs, refresh drops and gel at night. I ran out of the restasis about 6 months ago and can not afford my new copay to get more. I wasn't sure it was working but my eyes have been extremely dry since I stopped. I wake up at night and my eyelids feel like they are stuck to my eye. It is very painful and worse than before I started on all the eye meds. So, I do believe it works. Can't wait until they come out with a generic!
Great hint! That stuff gets expensive.
My doctor said the same thing and also explained that Restasis is an immune suppressant and that I would open up my eyes to many more infections which would be worse in the long run.
Hi,
I’ve tried it but I found it doesn’t help much. It also leaves your eyes open to infection.
I use Systane ultra has an oily formula which keeps me comfortable all night.