Restasis

[NikkiLou]

Would appreciate advice from anyone who has been on Restasis (Ciclosporin) eye drops for dry eye, ocular symptoms.

Does it work for you? what side effects have you found?

Also, does anyone know if you can use these drops if you have punctal plugs in your eyes?

Thankyou.

[jennfran]

My Dr. just put me on these yesterday. I have not tried them but am going to try sometime this morning. A little nervous about them, but hoping they will work..Jenn

[Melissa W]

Hi NikkiLou and Jenn,

I have not been on Restasis but know some people who are and it seems to be helping their dry eye. You can use it with punctal plugs, no problem.
It takes at least 6 weeks to work so be patient and you should continue using preservative-free rewetting drops while you are waiting for the Restasis to kick in. In fact, you may want to continue using the rewetting drops even after. If your eyes are dry they may be that way because of several different reasons and you may want to continue using drops that alleviate dry eye by different mechanisms.

Restasis increases tear production in people whose tear production is suppressed due to ocular inflammation associated with chronic dry eye. The literature states that it does not help in people with punctal plugs but I don't agree. I know people who have punctal plugs and the Restasis just made their eyes even better. As I said, it may work on people who have dry eye for more than one reason.

Good luck!
Melissa

[SolomonCox]

Melissa,
Was wondering why have choosen so far not use Restasis? Just thought some insight might be gained by your thoughts/actions (e.g. worried about side effects, etc.).

Thanks as always,
SC

[Melissa W]

Hi SC,

I don't have ocular rosacea so that's why I haven't tried it.
After VBeam I do have some dryness and tearing so for short term I use preservative-free rewetting drops.

Best wishes,
Melissa

[SolomonCox]

You lucky girl!!!

[Melissa W]

Hi SC,

I never thought of it that way but yes, I guess it could always be worse :D

But I do feel lucky that this Forum exists and everyone here is so great!
I appreciate that for sure!

Best wishes,
Melissa

[jennfran]

Melissa,

I was reading the phamplet that comes with the med and it does say this will not help people with plugs. I do have plugs and my Dr. never said anything, I wonder if he even knows this. You said you know people that say it does work with plugs? I wonder though if it would work better without the plugs.

The drops are not irritating whatsoever. My rewetting drops are more irritating then these..lol..Hope it works..Jenn

[Melissa W]

Jenn,

As I said in my last post the literature says it won't help with plugs but I know a few people who have plugs and use Restasis and are very happy.
In fact, they got the plugs and stopped Restasis and then added Restasis again and noticed an improvement. Remember, there may be several different mechanisms causing each person's dry eye.

Good luck!
Melissa

[Eli]

I too was initially was concerned when I saw the statement about cyclosporine used with punctal plugs. I found out from an opthalmologist later though, that this only meant that during clinical trials, Restasis wasn't tested on patients who had been fitted with plugs. The mechanism of the drug remains the same plugs or no plugs, and as Melissa pointed out, many people with plugs have found ssome relief with it.

[DJC]

Is anyone still using Restasis for their Occular Rosacea?

I am thinking of getting some. Any feed back or up dates??

[curlygrl]

Hi,

I used Restasis for 2 months with no changes/improvement. Every time I go to the eye doc (and I have been to different ones), they urge me to stay on it. It's a bit frustrating b/c I'm not sure they have other options right now aside from steroids. So, it always seems like "Restasis, Restasis, Restasis." This eye issue is for the birds. I have tried everything.

[Melissa W]

Hi curlygrl,
Have you tried punctal plugs?
What else have you tried for your ocular rosacea?

I recommend frequent use of preservative- free rewetting drops and eyelid hygiene maintenance and supplementing with flaxseed and omega 3's.
You can do all of this in addition to Restasis if you like.

Best wishes,
Melissa

[LavenderVA]

I used Restasis for almost 4 months from Jan till April. It is hard to evaluate this as Restasis did not prevent me from getting a chalazia on my right eye. Of course I was switching drugs in April from Erythro- to Oracea, which might contribute to the occurrence of chalazia if antibiotic was not strong enough to control my symptom. According to my eye dr, Restasis is supposed to reduce the eyelid inflammation therefore to reduce the gland clogging but it did not work as expected in my case.

Regarding the dry eye symptom, I did not feel much improvement in Jan and Feb while I was on Restasis. I started to feel less dry in eyes in March/April but not sure if it is because of the weather change or Restasis.

Just came back from my eye dr visit. She suggested me to be on Restasis and AzaSite for 3 months to better control the lid inflammation. Seems that there is no other option I have at the moment but to give it another try. I trust my eye dr.

C.

[francois]

Hi curlygrl,
Have you tried punctal plugs?
What else have you tried for your ocular rosacea?

I recommend frequent use of preservative- free rewetting drops and eyelid hygiene maintenance and supplementing with flaxseed and omega 3's.
You can do all of this in addition to Restasis if you like.

Best wishes,
Melissa

I agree. Preservative drops, fish oil, flax seed and borage oil supplements help me keep my blepharitis in control. Omegas are the only supplements that I'm 100% sure works for me.

[lamarr]

Flaxseed is the only thing that rids me of my ocular rosacea dry eye symptom. But i have recently found it makes me flush more than when i don't use it. I really need a different solution though, but there isn't many options here in the UK. We don't have Cyclosporine eye drops of any sort.

Has anyone else found flaxseed makes them more readily flush?

GLA in borage oil helps a tiny bit but nothing compared to flax.

[Erikson]

Hi guys!thumbs:

My doc prescribed Patanol but bc I don't have drug coverage she told me I could use Zaditor (Walgreens has the generics too). I used it and it was OK but nowadays I tried Alaway drops and its really good.smile: