Cyclosporine ophthalmic User Reviews & Ratings

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "My doctor prescribed Restasis as part of a treatment plan for my chronic dry eye, which has caused some damage to my cornea and also deterioration of my vision. I used it twice a day but had to discontinue after 3 weeks because of severe side effects. These included pain, discomfort, feeling of a foreign object, and increased sensitivity to light. In other words, it caused an increase in the symptoms it was supposed to treat! The day I stopped using the drops, the side effects diminished, and the day after they disappeared. I was happy to be back to the condition I had previously. That's the only positive effect of Restasis - realizing how much better you feel NOT using it. I can't imagine for the life of me why this product is on the market and is being prescribed by physicians."

• Fru...
• June 19, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "I read the studies & user reviews and I wonder are doctors getting kickbacks from Allergan?! Week 2 of Restasis use, my eye is drier, stings/aches throughout the day, and the dryness and feeling of a foreign object in my eye is so bad it wakes me at night. What drug worsens your condition before it gets better and takes months before benefits can be seen? Will I even experience positive effects of the drug or just return to baseline or habituate to this useless drug? Restasis is only approved in the US. Foreign drug administrations don’t consider a 15% user improvement as enough to justify it with its bad side effects as a treatment for chronic dry eye or MGD. I expressed all of these concerns to my doc, and she says stick with it and now take a steroid eye gel to help the eyes tolerate the Restasis! I honestly hope that in a few weeks I will have to eat my words, but as of this moment based on my own experience, user reviews, and limited empirical data in support of this medication’s efficacy, I am far from optimistic."

• No ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "After reading the many reviews that sound really similar to my negative experience, I felt like I needed to enter my own review. My ophthalmologist prescribed Restasis for my extreme dry eyes, saying that it could take up to 4 months to start having a positive effect. First, I was shocked at the copay expense of about $500 for a 3-month supply of the daily single-dose drops. After six months, I told my doctor that I didn't feel any improvement from the drops. She flippantly said to stop taking them then & come back in a year. It made me think that perhaps there was a kickback that had already been paid."

• Jim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 18, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "I have dry eyes so I was prescribed the Restasis one week ago. I was told it would take months to really kick in to be effective. The Restasis caused the side effects of my eyes got bloodshot, teared for no reason, and overall a general discomfort. I stopped them today and went back to Systane Ultra, and my eyes feel so much better. When it comes to my eyes, I'm not messing around with something for months to see if it even works. I do not recommend this drug."

• Ver...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 20, 2020

For Dry Eye Disease "I have used single-dose Restasis vials for over 6 years and have been pleased with this product. I just started using the new multi-dose bottle. This design is a disaster. I am very careful using it, but I wind up getting many drops on my cheek and excessively large drops in my eyes. I suspect Allergan changed the design because users were using the single vials for two daily doses instead of just one. I would suggest Allergan not pin its hopes on the new multi-dose bottle unless they improve the design of this bottle. I will request the single-use vials as long as they are available. In the meantime, I will be researching other medications. I may just discontinue this medication entirely and rely on artificial tears."

• Mel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 5, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "I was hoping to find better information here. I’ve been using this for over 2 years routinely, with absolutely no positive experience. When I first started using it, all symptoms immediately became worse, which I wrote off as getting accustomed to a new medication. However, once we got past the original introductory phase, I expected to find at least moderate improvement. Not the case - absolutely no improvement. Does anyone have another option? I feel like I’ve tried everything, but my eyes only continue to get worse regardless of all the effort to improve."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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.)"

• RCa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 15, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "Very effective for me, but must be used for at least 4 months to have any chance. Came close to stopping after 3 months. Works by suppressing the immune response to what the body perceives as an attack on the surface of the eye from dry eye. I get it in Canada and the US, so not true that only the US approves for dry eye. I do reuse the individual vials and get about 3-4 doses per. My cost in either country, with the card, is about $80 per month."

• Bem...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2015

For Dry Eye Disease "I used Restasis for extreme dry eyes. After 2 years and no relief, I gave up. Restasis didn't do a thing! I now use Retaine available online or at a pharmacy. It's new and works great! No prescription needed and only about $20 for 30 containers. Use just like Restasis."

• Bob...
• October 19, 2016

For Dry Eye Disease "I am a senior citizen who has been on Restasis for 5 years. It is so expensive that using it puts me in the Medicare donut hole. The drug company, Allergan, is unwilling to give me assistance in the form of samples, and my doctor's office gave me two samples one time during the 5-year period, and after that will not help. I was refused two samples to get me through until January 1 when my new insurance year begins. It costs $481.35 for a monthly supply, so even though my copay is only $30, I am in the donut hole by August at the latest. Allergan has a racket going on here at the expense of the patient. It's not affordable even though it's effective. Totally unfair, corrupt company."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 2, 2012

For Dry Eye Disease "I have been using Restasis for months combined with Azasite. I have been very pleased with the relief it has given my eyes after decades of dealing with painfully dry eyes. I am lucky to have great insurance. The drops are extremely expensive without insurance or good coverage."

• Ted...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 21, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "My doctor botched my multifocal cataract surgery and convinced me that I have dry eye. Recommended Restasis 4.5 years ago - I have seen no improvement - what a ripoff for what should have been a very simple operation. My eyes were done in Rochester, NY, and he was a real con artist."

• 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."

• Paa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 7, 2019

For Dry Eye Disease "OMG. $457.00 paid for initial script of Restasis multi-dose after insurance. $40.00 for each month thereafter. The bottle is a disaster. Almost impossible to squeeze the drop out. It takes 30 seconds minimum and a great deal of pressure has to be used. Sometimes nothing, and other times too much. Wasteful, to say the least. How can Allergan charge this much money for something with an extreme design flaw? I really want this to work, but I don’t see the vial lasting 30 days. Is the company going to help? Or answer the complaints?"

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2024

For Dry Eye Disease "Impressed with data and effectiveness, but even with a $59 coupon for a 2 ml bottle, this medicine is too difficult to use. The oil base made the drop impossible to sense when hitting the eye. It required a mirror to know the drop had hit the eye. Additionally, the drop came out of the dropper bottle by gravity. Don’t squeeze the bottle. The oil base and bottle design mean many drops will be wasted. Now normally, 1 ml = 20 drops. So, twice daily, 2 ml will amount to no more than a 21-day supply. With wasted drops, it lasted 2 weeks, nowhere close to the 50 days prescribed by the MD. Summary: probably a good product but way too expensive for average use, even when insurance covers it."

• Bet...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 12, 2021

For Dry Eye Disease "I have been using the vial form of Restasis since about 2013 and have never had any trouble with those. The last time I saw my eye doctor, he prescribed the multi-dose bottles, and I have yet to get them to work well. The first bottle I used lasted 21 days, and the second bottle lasted only 12 days. I'm on the 3rd now, and I counted a minute and 56 seconds before the first drop entered my eye (and that was after having the bottle turned upside down for 20 seconds before even holding it over my eye). When I called to complain, I was told that because there's a filter in the tip to help with sterilization, it might take longer, and I shouldn't squeeze the bottle more than lightly. I'm sorry, but over a minute to instill the first drop is unacceptable."

• jes...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 31, 2020

For Dry Eye Disease "Have been using Restasis in the vial form for a couple of years. Have had no side effects, no problem putting this vial form in my eyes. I was coming to the end of this prescription. I have a new ophthalmologist and was ordered the Restasis multi-dose. This bottle form did not work for me. Could not get the drops to squeeze out, and when the drops did squeeze out, it was too late, I already moved the bottle away from my eye and it dropped on my face, therefore, it was a wasted expensive drop. Sometimes I would squeeze the bottle, and the bottle would stay formed in the squeeze position. The bottle just did not work for me. So I’ve had my ophthalmologist prescribe the vial form. I have not gotten these yet, but I know they will work much better."

• 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."

• 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!"

• 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."