Restasis

[neenagokli]

Hi everyone, is a side effect of Restasis a kind of stinging feeling? If so, how long does this feeling last?

[Patze]

Hi Neenagokil,

Oh yes, the dryer my eyes, the more and longer it stings; I'd rather deal with the stinging though than not be able to see normally again (my vision got so bad that I could not see even with my prescription glasses on - kind of like looking through gauze).

How long do they sting after you use Restasis if you don't mind my asking?


Patze

[12lovehim]

Ok.. I have felt like my eye site was getting worse and worse.. but every time we see the eye Dr.. my script don't change.. I just want to say thank you.. No one has told me about anything other than the OTC drops.. will push the issue now!! I fell like I am seeing through a misty fog..

Just purchased a pair of night lenses to sleep in.. the headaches I get from dry swollen eyes at night are crazy... (is restasis the med that changes your eye color?)

keri

[Jellyb]

Hi Neen,
Restasis burns almost all the time for me. I use it twice a day. Like Patze, if my eyescre ery dry it burns more, but always stops in about 15 min.

It has really started to help after about the 4 month mark for me.

12 love, Latisse is the eye medication that can change eye color. Ut is used to grow and thicken eyelashes. I dont think restasis has that side effect.

[Iris]

Restasis always burns my eyes but it usually stops after about half an hour..

I had serum tears made yesterday and my eyes feel better than they have in a long time.. Not as dry and not as much of the sand and grit feeling in them.. I hope it keeps working..

[Meld256]

Hi neenagokli,

And if I haven't yet welcomed you to the forum, let me say "Welcome!" 

As you see, there is lots of info. here and some friendly people who will answer most any question or concern. (or at least we try!)
In answer to your question, like others have said, it CAN sting a bit for a short time when you first put in the drops and it seems to be worse when your eyes are very dry, or when you first begin using it as a treatment.
I sometimes just take a cold, wet washcloth and hold it over my eyes for a few minutes, but of course, don't wash out the med! You can use another OTC drop if you need to, but wait for about 15 minutes to do so.

12lovehim, my script for glasses hasn't changed in 2-3 years, but this is a different issue. Your eye doc should check to see how dry your eyes are, and if they are producing enough of the right kind of moisture. Many of us produce some, but the "tear film" doesn't last long.  Meaning the "good stuff" to lubricate the eye enough to keep them from being inflammed. (that's my medical term today with brain fog)  If your eyes are swelling overnight, it may that they are quite dry.
People see the Restasis commercial and say "oh, yeah, my eyes are kind of dry", too.  They really don't understand.  When my MIL saw me using 3 kinds of drops on mine daily then she started to get it!  It is Chronic Dry Eye that can cause us a great deal of problems, so hopefully you can have your eyes checked soon.
Hope this all helps a bit!
Melinda

[neenagokli]

Thanks everyone. My eyes sting 15-30 min after I use the Restasis. It really has been a godsend.

[becky]

I have been using Restasis, twice daily, since 2006.  I have chronic corneal erosion because of the dry eyes.  My eyes get so dry that the lids stick to my cornea and when I open my eyes a piece of the cornea tears off.  The Restasis can really burn when this happens but it ususally only last 15 to 30 minutes.  I depend on the Restatsis, genteal gel, and lots of Systane Balance during the day.

Good luck.

[Skylar]

My ophthalmologist recommended that I keep my restasis in the fridge - and I find it more comfortable when it's cold.

[Sooki]

Restasis stings my eyes too.  Some days more than others.  My ophthalmologist said I could put in other drops after 10 mins as a general rule for drops.  At night, I do my nighttime drops after 10-15 mins. They take away the sting.  In the morning, if I did the  nighttime ones, the morning Restasis doesn't sting as much.  If it does, then I use day time drops after awhile.  I read somewhere that they're working on a new formulation of Restasis that uses some other oil than castor oil; hopefully it will be gentler on sensitive eyes.  Another study confirmed an earlier study that concluded that after a year on Restasis, using it once a day was just a effective for most people.  So some mornings, I "forget" (but it's still no more than 2 days per vial).

[becky]

Thanks for that update Sooki.  Very interesting.

[Cheryl]

Neen,
Try using your otc drops about 10 minutes before the Restasis drop.  Good luck!
Cheryl