Restasis Effectiveness

[Cindy]

I been on restasis for 2 weeks now. I didnt had any burning in the beginning until today. So Im wondering if this is the beginning of going downhill. I was reading that restasis doesn't have a high effectiveness percentage. I read several posts where people instead of feeling a relief from restasis they got worst. Im wondering if once again I will be the lucky one that doesn't get a benefit from medication. Evoxac doesnt work as I wish for, sometimes it works very little and sometimes nothing at all. What can you tell me about restasis? Does it works for you?

[slccom]

Very few of us don't benefit. Could I suggest taking meds with a spirit of optimism and quit looking at at side effects and bad experiences?

And put the Restasis in the refrigerators and see if that helps.
Sharon

[Iris]

It helps a lot of people but you have to give it a chance.. 2 weeks is not long enough to know.. It can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to see an increase in tear production...

I tried it for 10 months before I decided it just wasn't working for me.. Unless it is making your eyes worse you should at least give it time to start working.. You can use over the counter drops about 10 or 15 minutes after the restasis to help with the burning..

[Ark mom]

It took 3 months to find out that it worked for me.  Don't give up yet! 

Also, it depends on if you are reading about those questioning the effectiveness of people with dry eye syndrome due to any cause or just the effectiveness of the drug in people with inflammatory processes, like sjogren's patients.  My eye doctor said it works really well for many of us, not all, of course, but it is less likely to improve dry eyes due to other causes.

[star723]

I have been using restasis for years now.   A few months ago I ran out, because of mail order mix up.  I had been wondering if it was working for me or not.  After reading some post on here I was not sure anymore.  I don't think it helps in making more tears. BUT it most certainly helps.  For the week I was not using it I could not open my eyes in the mornings.  I was using the over counter night ointment and still could not open them without a lot of pain.  After a week or so back using Restasis I have no problems.  Are my eyes still dry? Yes they are. But I can open them in the mornings without ripping the skin off my eyelids.  It did take about 2 month when I first started to get some relief.

[Christine435]

I tried Restasis years ago with no positive effect and I had only been on it for about a month or so.

Now I have been on it for 2 1/2 months and am just starting to see some relief. I would say give it 4-6 months. I believe the Restasis website, or somewhere else I read, said it can take 6 months to show improvement.

My burning has gone away. I refrigerate it.

[4Kids]

It was a life saver for me when I started. Then my eyes got so good the optometric specialist said ok try without... backwards. Now it does often burn (a sign my eyes are dry. this changes daily so I don't sweat it).  I am tearing up when I want to quicker.

try refridgerating it and try putting a moisture drop on your eye first.

This is a good 3 months after starting

[grammad97]

Before even if I wanted to cry I couldn't but now six months after starting restasis I have tears! My eyes need no other drops too! Love it!

[MaryBee7]

I find it does burn when putting it in, but am giving it a try as my eyes are getting more and more dry. 

[Styx]

The studies for restasis are pretty lackluster. From what I've read, it's barely better than placebo.

Call me crazy; I still use it

Styx