Restatis effectiveness and duration

[happylife]

Hello,

My eyes were normal 5 months back in Jan-2017. Now in  June-2017, my schirmer-2 test with anethesia shows 5/15 in both eyes...which i believe is severe dry eyes.

My eye doctor just prescribed me RESTATIS once in morning and once at night. Can you folks tell me the following based on your experience.

1. How many months does it take for RESTASIS to show tear level improvement?
2. After 1 year usage can i expect my tear levels to come back to normal?
3. Is this a life long medication for Sjogren patients or can this be stopped after a few years?
4. Currently i am using eye drops 10 times a day, with restasis will i need eye drops less frequently?
5. Of late i am putting eye gel (genteal gel) twice in the night. Is this ok to put gel in the middle of night.....or is this a problem?

Thanks in advance.

[irish]

The Restasis can be used for a long time. I think I am into my 12th year. I did not have bad dry eye but I did have like a 2 on my schermer scale. Dry eyes was the last symptom I got in 2003 after my Sjogrens diagnosis. In 2012 I started the Restasis. It had not been on the market very long at that time. My DIL is optometrist and put me on it. She has since become very knowledgeable about Sjogrens and eyes and takes good care of me.

I noticed a difference around the 4th month and by the 1 year mark eyes were better. I took me time to scale back on the eye drops OTC and there have been many days when I didn't use them at all. I have been negligent and forget to take my Restasis like I should and me eyes have become more dry so I be interested to see what testing does next week.

I was given steroid eye drops to use 2 weeks prior to starting the Restasis. This helps to reduce the irritation so that burning isn't as bad when you start the Restasis. If burning is a problem when you start the restasis they say to refrigerate the drops as the coolness helps. Also one can use OTC drops about 15 minutes before putting the Restasis in and than again 15 minutes after the Restasis. Don't take my word for it and check with your eye doc.

I don't know why one couldn't use the gel again during the night but again check with the doc. I never planned on my eyes improving to the point where I could quit the Restasis as autoimmune diseases have a mind of their own. Just have to deal with it as it comes. I have had autoimmune disease since 1964 and doctored forever before getting my diagnosis in 2003 and have now got 5 autoimmune diagnosis. Just goes to show you what can happen if you live long enough. Irish

[Lorand]

Hi,

My story is similar to yours, in 2017 jan I was ok, and then my eye dryeness quickly progressed, being 0 (without aenestesia) in may. I begun Ikervis (=Restasis) 1 month ago, and now I am feeling better, and last time my Schrimer score was 5. It can be from Restasis, or maybe from Q10 coenzime too. In my worst times I used eye drops 30+ times a day, right now I came back to 10-15. I ordered moisture chamber glasses, that also helped a lot. The night time gel is ok twice, but with an ointment (Hydramed night, xialis nigh, etc.) one application could be enough.

Cheers,
Lorand.