[Liz1967]

#1060719

I have used Restasis (cyclosporine) since the onset of TED three years ago. I honestly cannot tell if it works. The only real immediately noticeable improvement in dry eyes came with punctal occlusion, lid surgery and/or steroid drops. All the studies say it works for Graves patients so I am afraid to stop using it; however, the only times my eyes are really uncomfortable are after putting in the drops. I use artificial tears before the Restasis and five minutes after, which eases the burning somewhat but it still lasts for an hour or so. Has anyone noticed a definite improvement on Restasis?

[tiredofitall]

#1184312

I tried Restasis for 3 months. Very expensive. For what it cost it didn’t do much more than artificial tears. So I stopped using it a month ago and went back to artificial tears.

[snelsen]

#1184313

I am glad you asked this question. I went through the same thing,had the same, experience, with Restates. As Liz said, it is very expensive. Not only that, I was told long time use is contraindicated. In addition, it hurt like hell when I put it in my eyes.

Dry and painful eyes are a BIG problem for. The non-preservative eye drops are super expensive, and work only ok. The best thing I have found, is also expensive, and I cannot find it in the stores, ordered it online.
It is called FreshKote, the company is Clear Solutions. I try to limit using it to one time a day, sometimes two when my eyes really hurt. A lot of my eye pain during the day, is because the inability of them to close when I sleep. I tape one eye closed with MEPITAC, a marvelous and also expensive tape you can order online. The other one, I gob up with ointment and drops,and sometimes it works,and sometimes the untaped eye really hurts in the morning…like today. One thing that helps me is to take a hot shower. The steam helps a lot.
The whole situation is very difficult and never ending.

[snelsen]

#1184314

So, I stopped using Restates years ago.

[jeff92]

#1184315

Pataday is an antihistamine eye drop that seems to be helping when its allergy season. Probably doesn’t do much for the GO problems though.

[laura1701]

#1184316

I have used Restasis for the last several years. I also have never been sure whether it was really helping or not. After my January 20 strabismus surgery, I had to stop using it. I realized it was causing my poor surgically irritated eyes to burn like crazy. Eyes already were very uncomfortable and Restasis just intensified it to a new level. I have not noticed much difference yet in dryness-although I have been using loads of artificial tears and ointments because of sutures. I did not know Restasis was not meant for long term use?? I only noticed very sporadic burning from Restasis prior to the recent surgery. So it was not a problem for me then.

[newtograves]

#1184317

They gave me theratears there is an ingredient for inflammation and it helps with the dryness as well. I’m am prone to believe it helps because my vision improves when I’m using it.
I do have the single use ones as I found out with an eye injury years ago I’m allergic to the preservative in eye drops

[snelsen]

#1184318

I alternate beween Thera tears, Soothe and Systane balance eye drops…and now and then the hame of one I can’t recall tonight! Very expensive, very good. I also have a little amount of steroid eye gets which I use very rarely…maybe in a very acute painful situation when I don’t tape my eye closed at night. Bad to overuse steroid eye gets.
Shirley

[snelsen]

#1184319

Forgot to mention Restasis Did not help me at all. Stopped a long time ago.I believe this eye drop has a limited use of time, and can damage eyes if used for long periods.

[marilu]

#1184320

I went on Restasis for a whole year and it did absolutely nothing for my dry eyes. I don’t think there is a cure, just gotta keep using those eyedrops. I use Systane Ultra 6 times a day.

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