Hello Leyna
since i was prescribed Restasis ive used it a couple of times, especially when i feel that there are rocks under the lids during a flare up. after one or two uses, immediately i felt relief but its strong... my eye would start watering suddenly so thats when i knew i went back on regular drops. ive never used it long term as a daily drop.but i did feel that it helps during the super dry out eyes. good luck

Hello. I use it twice a day every day and it's great. I don't feel dry at all throughout the day and only occasionally wake up feeling dry. I've experimented and stopped using it for a week just to see if it was really making a difference and it did. I wouldn't go without it. The only problem is that it is very expensive in the US. Good luck!

I have been on it for four months. It works well for me. I still have to use drops during the day and ointment at night, but it has made a big difference. Instead of throwing the vials away, keep them in a cup in the fridge. Each vial will last about three days that way, significantly reducing your cost because each month supply will last you four or more months.

Works really well for me too. I use way less drops and have way less eye pain and corneal abrasions. It IS expensive without insurance and even with insurance.
I use it sparingly and can make a box last way longer than what they prescibe. One vial last me two-three days. Sometimes I use it once a day at night before bedtime usually when we have high humidity days. Dry days twice daily.
Just store the open vial in a dark place. I've had no issues for a few year now.

Thanks guys. It sounds like most of you have been successful with Restasis. Maybe it will be worth a try. I wasn't aware that you could use it only when you need it. I thought you had to use it all the time instead of regular eye drops. It's good to know that you can open a vial and then keep it in the fridge. I'm also looking at Lacricert as an option. My drug plan will cover the Restasis but not the Lacricert and the Lacricert is quite expensive as well. Do you have to use a steroid drop with Restasis in the beginning? I am under the impression that you do. How does that affect using it on a more casual basis?

Actually i wasnt prescribed the eye drops on an as needed. it was because they are expensive and as the eyes felt better i got off them back onto regualr drops. i think its best to use it continuous for the treatment to be most effective. good luck

The eye dr. started me on steroid drops & restasis together. He weaned me off the steroid drops in 3 weeks. He said they helped things get started quicker. I use restasis twice a day everyday. My eyes have improved but not totally yet as I have only been using them for 3 months. He said it takes awhile for them to fully work. I don't ever want to stop using them.

I agree. I use restasis twice a day and have for 2 years. Before I started the drops, my eyes were becoming so dry that now I have a condition called corneal dystrophy. Now I have a corneal transplant to look forward to. I wish I had had the restasis sooner! And it's true that you have to use it twice a day for about 6 weeks to see a difference, and that you have to use it twice a day to maintain the benefits. It won't help if you use it on an as-needed basis. I also use Oasis Tears Plus in the morning when I wake up and at night right before I go to bed. These drops were recommended by my eye dr., and they really are better than other drops--longer lasting, more soothing--because the have hyalneuronic acid. They, too, are expensive, and you have to get them online.

I use it daily and have for about 5 years it had help with my dry eyes

Cathy

I had a negative experience with Restasis. I tried it for 7 weeks one time and 3 months another and had the same negative results. My eyes felt worse than if I did not use it! It is not for everyone. So, if you do try it and it doesn't help you, know that you are not alone. I use regular over the counter drops now. I also use an ointment at night and punctual plugs. : )

Thanks everyone. I have decided to try the Lacricert. My Optometrist managed to get me some to try and I'm not sure If I will love it, but it helped enough that I feel it's worth an honest try. By my third day of using it I actually woke up without my eyelid stuck to my eyeball! I haven't had that happen in oh, maybe a year... If it doesn't help I will look at Restasis. Thanks again!

I just started on restasis and love it. I use it twice a day. One vial is only good for 12 hours because there is no preservatives in it. If you use it longer the effectiveness is gone. My eyes don't feel sticky or gritty anymore. I don't have to use any drops other than restasis. Its one of the only RX my insurance covers. My insurer does not cover my generic plaquenil.....go figure.

I LOVE RESTASIS!!!!!! It saved my eyes!

Been using Restasis for over a month and I'm using less eye drops. So far I'm down to using OTC drops 3 - 4 times a day versus 8 - 10 times. That's progress in my book.

I have punctual plugs, also. My eye regimen is almost exactly like yours. I have tried Restasis three times and all three times my eyes could not tolerate it. I felt like acid had been put into my eyes. I have tried it over a three month period and my eyes hurt terribly every day. The last time I just gave up. It cost me on Medicare in the U.S. over $350 and I have a great pharmaceutical plan but if it had helped it wouldn't have mattered how much it had cost. I discovered by accident something that has helped my eyes more than anything outside of the plugs. I use genteel lubricant and then I put on a sleeping mask and the mask must help to keep the moisture in my eyes because since I have started using the mask and lubricating twice a night my eyes have stopped hurting. Hope this has helped you. Take care, Martha (my dad 's name was berry festus)