restasis

[man-with-sjogrens]

anybody have experience, pro or con, with restasis?

I like the idea that it might be able to save some function in the tear glands.  I have very dry eyes overnight, especially, and i tried those viscous gel drops and didn't like them.

[ohiolady]

I use Restasis and it does help.  You need to give it a full 6 months and don't expect to make your eyes feel normal again.  With that said, it has helped me.

Anna

[Sjenny]

I love Restasis - it has returned my eyes to being nearly normal.  I very rarely use eyedrops now.  You might also want to supplement with high quality fish oil tablets.

Sue

[Patze]

Hi MWS,

I'm kind of the opposite end of Sjenny.  I too am on Restasis, and it was working for a while, but I've been increasing my use of OTC eye drops.  Finally had to go back to the eye doc, and he said that my eyes are drier than they've ever been.  On to plugs plus Restasis, OTC drops, and see how they are then.

Do you plan on trying Restasis?

Take care -

Patze

[eyeamdry]

What all the above say.  About 1/3 it helps, but you have to stay on it indefinietly.  The rest may get some relief--or none at all like me.  You must give it 6 months to see if it will work.  I've been on it twice--once for 6 weeks and once for 7 months and it never did anything.  It is worth a try, but you must be willing to go the long haul.
Lucy

[DragonflyC]

I've been using Restasis for about four months, and I don't notice a difference.  My husband, however, is convinced that it's helping me. 

I was having a flare when my optometrist gave me a prescription for it.  A month or so later, my rheum put me on prednisone for two weeks.  I think it was the prednisone that made the difference, but again, my husband insists that the Restasis makes a difference, too (he's an insightful guy with a good handle on my symptoms, so he might be seeing a subtle difference that I'm not, or it might just be wishful thinking).  I do find that my eyes feel better for a little while after I use the drops (after the initial sting wears off), so I'm keeping with it for a few more months. 

[man-with-sjogrens]

yes, i think i will give it a try, given what i've heard here and read elsewhere.

i will keep you posted.....some people report results as early as 30 days.

[laney]

Hi, started restasis about the time of these posts, but was not on the board then.  I have been having some dizziness; researching, I found a list of side effects. Some suggest it might effect the hormone balance? Since there are other autoimmune things related to thyroid, etc., maybe this is an indication this not for me.  I also saw a control results that as a lay person, I don't understand. But it looks to me that the lymphoma numbers were above regular. Hmmm.

I don't know if the opthm. gave me a tear production test first. I am not sure this is dry eyes, the way others describe it. I have tried for about a year to get treatments for what I have seen as a type of infection in the tears, around eyes, down the cheeks, either side of the nose. Have been given a quart-size zip bag full of different things to use.

New opthm. tried the green dye test and put me on some eye drops, one was also an immune suppressant. A month and a half later, the right cornea was clear.

But the brain fog since starting the restasis, I don't like. Can't afford to be foggy and not do well at work, now can I. Nothing like adding to the stress. Or get into an accident.
I think just a good prescrip of amoxacillin would do wonders.

Sorry for going on, here. Even if there are no replies, having a sounding board helps me sort it out.  Thanks for the forum:),  laney

[Patze]

Hi laney,

I'm sorry that your eyes are giving you such grief.  Hang in there, I know that it's easier said than done, but sometimes it's just being able to put one foot in front of the other works for me.

I know that my "dry eyes" are not the usual either.  Like some of the others, I have plenty of tears, but the oil glands in the eye lids have all become blocked and there is no oil in the tears to help stabilize them.  Because of that, the tears evaporate so fast that the eyes have a hard time staying lubricated.

Don't you just love the tear evaporation test?   The doctor used the slit eye evaporation test on me again a couple of weeks ago, and the evaporation rate in my left eye is 0 and 3 in the right eye - normal is anything from a 10 and above. 

You have celiac, right?  If not, forgive me as my memory isn't as good as it used to be.  Have you had your thyroid checked lately?  How about your vitamin levels checked lately?  Can you get your primary to check them? 

I still have brain fog (having Hashimoto's and being on Levoxyl), but I know mine has been with me since the thyroid started to slow down, and that's been several years now.  It gets better some days and not so good on others, so who knows what's driving it? 


Take care my friend, and keep us updated, okay?

Patze

[Pisces24]

I just I just say my eye doctor yesterday. My eyes are doing well. When the rheum tested by eyes I must have had a "flare" then (March) as my eye were fine on fluid. I did complain to him about occasional "allergy" eyes - kind of like my lower eyelid when it goes over my eye is not smooth like a baby's bottom.

He is having me use OcuSoft wipes. They are about $10 for 30 and you don't use them IN your eyes but on your eyelashes - around there. Seems I have a lot of "gunk" around that area which he thinks is causing the problem. He also gave me a sample of Systane Ultra eye drops to try - didn't notice a thing with them yet. Evidentially before he can prescribe restasis - he has to try eye drops, etc per insurance.  Thankfully I am not to the point where I feel I need the restasis yet.

With any new med - read the leaflet on all the side effects & possible allergic reactions.