Restasis and Swelling: What Users Say

• Do...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 27, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "I was diagnosed with dry eye disease and MGD. My doc prescribed it and said it would take 3 months to kick in. I took it for almost 3 months, and it made my eyes drier than they were before! I stopped taking it. Then my eyelids got really bad. Very swollen and caused my eyes to burn for weeks. It also made my MGD worse! My eyes started to feel better a few months later and still have some side effects of it today, but I wanted to let you know NOT TO TAKE THIS! Just keep up on the artificial tears and start watching your diet! Watch your sugar and coffee, and take more vitamin D and B vitamins."

• She...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "I was prescribed Restasis for dry eye and cataract surgery. Over time (3+ months), my eyes were inflamed, irritated, and painful. It also felt like something was poking my eyeball under my eyelid. I wanted to rip out my eyeballs. I stopped the drops, and within 2 days, symptoms were almost gone. Eyes feel almost normal. I'll stick to OTC dry eye drops. I used the single-use vials. (Use a discount card off their website.)"

• God...
• January 28, 2015

For Dry Eye Disease "Restasis has been nothing short of a miracle for me! My eyes hurt, were extremely dry, had bumps under my eyelids and terrible allergies and inflammation. In the morning my eyelid would stick closed and I would have to open it slowly and add gel drops. I was on 4 things a day for my eyes and they were not getting much better. I run a humidifier because the dryness from running the heat in the winter seemed to make my eyes worse. I could not wear my contact lenses as it was torture. After being on Restasis for 3 weeks, I am 80% better. I use Systane Ultra gel drops when I go to bed at night and my eyes are so much better in the mornings when I wake up. I am now wearing my contact lenses again, but, not as long during the day as I used to. Grateful!"

• pem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2016

For Dry Eye Disease "My eye doctor tried me on Restasis for dry eyes, the first time being about a year ago. I didn't experience stinging as some have and thought it was going to do the job. However, about a week into the treatment, my eyes felt swollen. I lifted my upper lids to see if anything looked wrong, and my eyeball looked like it had hemorrhaged. I took a picture so I could show my doctor and stopped the treatment. About 6 months later, we decided to try it again, thinking maybe another medication I was using could have caused the Restasis to react that way. But once again, it did the same thing."

• Mis...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 12, 2015

For Dry Eye Disease "I have been using this for approximately 2 years now, and I am very worried that it has made my eyes MUCH worse. I have just gotten done reading the other reviews, and I am the complete opposite of these others. Therefore, I read the list of possible but not likely side effects, and I am experiencing each and every one of these symptoms every time I use this medicine. Today, I used my Restasis and then went venturing with my family for a few hours, and my right eye began to secrete the yellowish thick fluid and burn worse than ever before. It also started to swell at the far corner of my eye. I went to the local emergency room, where I was informed that I have conjunctivitis in my right eye and now have to use antibiotics and pain meds."

• Cli...
• January 6, 2020

For Dry Eye Disease "I was prescribed Restasis along with the steroid drop by my eye doctor for severe dry eye. This medication was really rough on my eyes. It did not burn the inside of my eyes per se, but did burn around the eyelids, leaving a dark mark as if my eye is charred, swelling, redness, excessive watering, and a high mucus buildup. It still looks as if I have a black eye on my right eye. It had no benefit whatsoever, and the doctor stopped it after about 3 weeks of treatment because of the bad side effects. Just started Xiidra today. The reviews on its page are just as bad as the reviews on this page for Restasis. I'm not feeling very hopeful."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 25, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "Restasis does nothing for me. I have dry eyes from Sjögren’s disease, and it made my eyelids swollen. I stopped using it, and I’m more comfortable."