Cyclosporine ophthalmic and Burning: What Users Say

• Dry...
• December 20, 2020

For Dry Eye Disease "I was on Restasis for over 10 years, which allowed me to manage my dry eye syndrome. Once I went through menopause, it was like my whole system changed, and the Restasis no longer worked. I then tried Xiidra for maybe a year or so, which also did not work. I was just getting ready to start the autologous tears when my eye doctor said a new drug had been FDA approved a week before and to give that a try. I have been on Cequa ever since, and my dry eyes have been the best they have been for many years. I am extremely happy with it. I have no burning, and I get multiple drops out of each vial. I hated Xiidra because it left an oily film, I guess, on my eyes and affected my vision, and also left a very strange metallic taste in my mouth. I have severe dry eye syndrome. At one point, I had an attack that was so bad I lay on my bed and screamed for 24 hours. So, I can't even begin to tell you how grateful I am for Cequa. I also use an external spray on my eyes twice a day."

• 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."

• Fai...
• November 26, 2016

For Dry Eye Disease "Yes, it burns. Get over it. This is the only medication that's an actual solution, and not just a bandaid on the problem like lubricants. You will suffer for a month, get used to it because it's worth it. Restasis works, if you'd rather complain and not find a solution than go through a month uncomfortable I am speechless. You cannot use inflammatory eye drops, it negates Restasis. Be prepared for no makeup, and to look bloodshot for a bit. After a couple of months, I'm loving the effect Restasis has had on my eyes. Pro-tip: Stick vials in the fridge, when you put a couple of drops in each eye place the topper back on. One vial will last 3-4 days, that's putting 2 drops in each eye twice a day. Recommended is 2 vials a day, bullshit."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 14, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "I used Xiidra for about a year, and it seemed to help somewhat, but I could not justify the cost versus benefits. I just tried Cequa. It cost about $67 out of pocket. It made my eyes so much worse. I used it for a few days, thinking that maybe it would take a while to experience results, but I had constant burning and red eyes from it. It’s terrible to try to get through a workday with burning eyes. It’s difficult to focus mentally when all you want to do is lie down and close your eyes with a hot compress on them. Sadly, Cequa did not work for me."

• Emp...
• October 5, 2016

For Dry Eye Disease "I was prescribed Restasis by my ophthalmologist due to severe dry eye caused by Accutane. I was given a card that gave me a discount since I did not have private health insurance and used each vial over 2-3 days, so that it became effectively very cheap for me to use. I had side effects at first: burning eyes and blurred vision. I was told it takes a minimum of 3 months to see any benefits, so I kept using it. It worked almost too well, as my eyes started producing tears so much that my eyes would water all the time. I stopped using the product after 1 year, and my eyes have improved so much that I no longer need to use it, although I still use regular over-the-counter eye drops (Systane Balance) once or twice a day as needed."

• mit...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 20, 2013

For Dry Eye Disease "I have used Restasis for about a year now and have seen almost no progress. For most of my life, I've had red and bothersome eyes. After trying various eye drops, my doctor recommended Restasis. He said it typically takes 3 to 6 months for it to really kick in, but it never did. When I put the drops in, it burns my eyes for the first 30 - 40 minutes. I've talked with my doctor about this, and he said it is normal but should go away after some time, but it hasn't. Every year around springtime, my eyes get terribly irritated, and this year has been the same, maybe even worse than other years, even though I've been using Restasis for a year now. The only difference I noticed was for the first couple of weeks, but now I'm ready to move on."

• Bir...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 28, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "I've been using Restasis for about a year. My doctor said there is some improvement with my vision, but I still have side effects. I have arthritic hands, and squeezing either the single dose or multidose versions is extremely difficult, but the multidose is slightly easier. I even called the company about it. My way around getting the multidose bottle to work better involves taking a sterile syringe needle (ask your doctor) and enlarging the dropper hole. Each bottle barely lasts a month. Now I learned that the multidose bottle is not available, just the singles. No drugstore or prescription service has it currently. My doctor also said that a generic version is about to be released in much larger bottles. As for the side effects, my eyes continue to burn, and my sinus problems have escalated to a point that I may stop using the medication and go back to using liquid tears 24/7."

• Sum...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 21, 2020

For Dry Eye Disease "Just started using Cequa about 1 week ago. My doctor told me to expect burning, which I have, especially at night. I had begun to notice less or no burning in the morning, which did not surprise me. I thought my eyes were closed and less subject to drying. I also noticed the closer I kept to the 12 hours between drops, the less burning, tearing, and running nose I experienced. Also, I have noticed every application I have a slight headache over my left eye. Nothing really painful and doesn’t last very long... maybe 15 minutes. After the burning and excessive tearing stops, my vision is very comfortable all day. There is more burning at night, but again, I think that is from my eyes being open and more subject to drying. I have to say I don’t like putting something in my eyes that makes them burn and water. I have samples to try, so the vote is still out on long-term use."

• Squ...
• February 14, 2016

For Dry Eye Disease "The first time I was prescribed Restasis, I was also prescribed a cortisone drop, and I didn't have any issues with burning and got complete relief within a few short months. I stopped taking it after 6 months, and the eyes became dry again about 9 months later. I am back on it again, but this time without the cortisone drops. I am finding the burning pretty much continuous. However, I am again producing tears easily. I will ask my doctor to again prescribe cortisone drops in addition to the Restasis. My doctor ok'd me using each vial for 2-3 days. Fortunately, I have insurance that covers most of the cost. I would highly recommend this drug to anyone suffering from chronic dry eyes. None of the over-the-counter medications helped."

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 10, 2017

For Dry Eye Disease "I had dry eyes since I began wearing contacts when I was 12 years old. Now at age 35, I found the solution... and it was not Restasis. I was prescribed Restasis for my chronic dry eye in 2014, and I used it for about 1 1/2 years. It burned my eyes every single time I used it, and I eventually quit because it was so painful. About one year ago, in 2016, I started exercising and drinking about 1 gallon of water per day. An unintentional result from my increased water intake was NO MORE dry eyes! I no longer have to use any eye drops, something I never left home without before. I'm not saying this will work for everyone, but I have tried multiple eye drops for years and got no results, I even tried supplements like fish oil with no improvement."

• Tee...
• March 4, 2020

For Dry Eye Disease "I was given Cequa to use after I stopped using Restasis because it burned/stung every time I used it. I don't really see any difference. The Cequa stings and causes my eyes to water all night long, making my nose run as well. Lately, my vision seems to have gotten really blurry, and I am wondering if this is some reaction to the Cequa. My eye doctor told me to stop using it for now."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 25, 2015

For Dry Eye Disease "I was hesitant to start using Restasis after reading the reviews. However, I was very desperate, suffering from severe dry eye, corneal scarring/dry spots, and ocular rosacea. My eyes were just giving me too much trouble, and I was using high-end lubricant eye drops, compresses daily, fish oil pills, and consuming a lot of water. I was doing all I could to avoid Restasis. At the end of my rope, my doctor prescribed Restasis along with a steroid drop. I have been using both for a month now and can already tell a very big difference. My eyes feel normal again and much less sensitive, with no burning, scratching, or tearing. It is wonderful. I hope that the benefits continue as long as I use the drops. I am a very happy Restasis customer!"

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 7, 2020

For Dry Eye Disease "My eyes were so dry I had to pry them open every hour and douse them with eye drops trying to sleep. With Restasis, I can usually sleep all night now, or only find my eyes are stuck upon awakening in the morning. I also have Graves’ disease, so these dry eyes may be related to that, but for now I find great relief with these drops. I have no side effects, just very slight burning, it’s not bothersome at all. I was scared to try them at first, so I only did one eye. Guess which one got better...the one I used Restasis on. I’m so glad my insurance is willing to cover them and the copay is $40."

• Jea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 3, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "I used Restasis for a year, and it worked great. It did burn my eyes after putting drops in, but it was only about 2/3 min of burning pain that made my eyes bloodshot and tear. After a year, I didn’t need the drops anymore, but then I got the COVID vaccine, and it flared my dry eyes up immediately. Probably within the week of getting the shot, my dry eye was worse than ever. My dr told me to try Cequa. I have been using Cequa for a month, and the burning after putting the drop in my eyes at night is much more intense than Restasis ever was. I am going back to my dr to see if I should stop, but I’m willing to continue for a month or so to see if the burning gets any better. Maybe Restasis was better for me, but I guess everyone needs to just try and see what works best for them. Hope this review helps."

• RHG...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 24, 2020

For Dry Eye Disease "Used Restasis, but MD didn't see remarkable difference, so recommended Cequa. Could not tolerate drug at all. Immediate pain upon putting eye drops in, extreme redness and burning. Received coupon for one month supply, so there were no out-of-pocket expenses. Never went through the insurance process to see if drug would have been covered."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 31, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "Was given Cequa for my dry eyes. Have been getting plugs, but haven't worked as well as I had hoped. Dr. gave me samples of Cequa to try. I have used it for about 3 weeks. I knew that they might burn at first. I really wanted them to work. So I was very diligent about 2x a day every 12 hrs. My eyes burn so bad still. I either have pain from the burning or my dry eyes. The burning seems to lessen about an hour or so before it's time for the next drops. I tried Restasis, but it didn't work for me either. I guess I will need to just stick with my Refresh Tears. They don't work very long, but they don't burn. 1 kind of pain is better than 2."

• Dar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "I have dry eyes after Lasik surgery. This makes my eyes twitch. My ophthalmologist was so excited to prescribe Cequa to me because my insurance covered it... WHY?... $2,000.00!!!! For a prescription... of eyedrops... For $2,000, these drops better have stem cells and give me perfect vision! But, alas, that was not the case. POSITIVES: 1. No propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol 2. Smoother than regular eye drops 3. Only takes a drop or two in each eye per dose NEGATIVES: 1. Individual uses a. I either poke myself in the eye or miss my eye completely b. More than 4 drops are in each vial and are one-time uses, therefore, a lot of waste 2. They burn in the early uses until your eyes either get used to them or are less dry 3. It makes the eyelid twitch! Nowhere does it say this is a warning or side effect. It started out barely noticeable, but by week 3, my left eye was constantly twitching all day long. Stopped using drops and the twitch is gone."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2015

For Dry Eye Disease "I have been using Restasis for 5 months and two weeks and have finally felt a huge improvement, so don't give up. There is no burning in my eyes, and I don't feel like I have something scraping them anymore. My doctor also recommended Lacrisert to help till the Restasis kicked in. Have only used it for about 2 weeks but did get some relief with the Lacrisert. All these medicines are expensive, but I use one vial of Restasis for both eyes am and pm. This makes it last longer. Also, I don't need a Lacrisert in one eye, so that lasts longer. Lacrisert is difficult to get in, but keep trying, you'll get the hang of it. Don't give up. Huge relief. Thank the good Lord for medicine."

• Dba...
• November 18, 2015

For Dry Eye Disease "Unfortunately, I was unable to effectively try this product. I experienced severe burning in my eyes following application. I contacted Allergan (manufacturer of Restasis) immediately with my side effects, and they offered a complete refund. Thrilled that I was able to recoup my money, as this was a VERY expensive prescription ($1400/cash... 3-month supply). I am impressed with their support and willingness to refund."

• Dot...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "I have dry eyes for many years, but the last 5 have been the worse. Burning and blurry eyes. I started the Cequa treatment 3 months ago, what an amazing difference. I use a lot fewer eye drops, no more burning eyes, and my vision is clear. But now I changed jobs, and my insurance does not cover this very expensive medication."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 6, 2022

For Dry Eye Disease "I do not like Cequa. Many people may think this is odd since it’s an eye drop, but it’s worsened my tachycardia, and I have difficulty urinating in the morning. The pain and burning in my eyes is so bad with the use of this, and it hasn’t gotten better. I am not using it anymore - not worth how expensive it is."

• KMS...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 11, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "I was using Restasis for a year, and it was great. Expensive, but it worked. Retired and went to husband's insurance, which wouldn’t cover it. Was prescribed Cequa and have been using it for 8 months, and it’s not working for me. So disappointed. Eyes burn and are red again. Very little relief. Back to using artificial tears again in between Cequa applications. Wish I could get back to Restasis again."

• Max...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 7, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "I have been using Restasis for 2.5 years. Yes, it burned at first for the first month, but it got so much better after that. About 2 months ago, I noticed that the drops were not as effective as they once were. Went to an ophthalmologist, and he prescribed me a steroid for 2 weeks — that helped tremendously, but then after that, to use Cequa. A higher dose of the active ingredient in Restasis. My eyes burned so bad. Much worse than they ever did. I went back to Restasis, burning continued. Worse than I’ve ever had. I want to rip my eyes out. So, I haven’t used anything in a couple of weeks but the TheraTears, and I’m better but not 100%. The doctor has suspected Sjögren’s syndrome, but they don’t know for sure if that’s my problem."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• February 2, 2025

For Dry Eye Disease "Very difficult to get drops out of the bottle. Droplet size was not consistent. Used product two months. Second month bought a $20 dropper cap to attempt to regulate droplet size. Did not make much difference. Bottle did not last 20 days. Too expensive even with coupon. Wish product was in daily squeezable ampules for individual daily use. I did like the product. No burning or irritation when put into my dry eyes."