Does Restasis make your eyelashes fall out?

Q: Does Restasis make your eyelashes fall out?

Restasis ( cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) should not make your eyelashes fall out. Clinical trials of Restasis have not identified loss of eyelashes or any other changes in eyelash growth to be a potential side effect of using Restasis eye drops. While there is no evidence that Restasis should have any effect on eyelashes, older studies have suggested that Restasis could potentially be linked to both excessive eyelash growth and eyelash shortening. One 2011 case report in Case Reports in Ophthalmology described a patient who developed elongated eyelashes after using Restasis for 5 months. In contrast with this finding, an older study from 2007 in the International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology found that in a very small group of children with an allergic eye condition (vernal keratoconjunctivitis), those treated with Restasis had shorter eyelashes than those who were not using Restasis. However, the authors suggest that patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis often have elongated eyelashes as a protective symptom of the condition and that the potential shortening effect of Restasis is a natural result of treating the disease itself.

Medically reviewed by Sally Chao, MD. Last updated on March 7, 2025.

Official Answer by Drugs.com

Restasis (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) should not make your eyelashes fall out. Clinical trials of Restasis have not identified loss of eyelashes or any other changes in eyelash growth to be a potential side effect of using Restasis eye drops.

While there is no evidence that Restasis should have any effect on eyelashes, older studies have suggested that Restasis could potentially be linked to both excessive eyelash growth and eyelash shortening. One 2011 case report in Case Reports in Ophthalmology described a patient who developed elongated eyelashes after using Restasis for 5 months. In contrast with this finding, an older study from 2007 in the International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology found that in a very small group of children with an allergic eye condition (vernal keratoconjunctivitis), those treated with Restasis had shorter eyelashes than those who were not using Restasis. However, the authors suggest that patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis often have elongated eyelashes as a protective symptom of the condition and that the potential shortening effect of Restasis is a natural result of treating the disease itself.

References

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). RESTASIS® (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.05% & RESTASIS MULTIDOSE (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.05%. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/050790s027lbl.pdf. [Accessed February 25, 2022].
Lei HL, Ku WC, Sun MH, et al. Cyclosporine a eye drop-induced elongated eyelashes: a case report. Case Rep Ophthalmol. 2011;2(3):398-400. https://doi.org/10.1159/000335281.
Pucci N, Massai C, Bernardini R, et al. Eyelash length in children with vernal keratoconjunctivitis: effect of treatment with cyclosporine eye drops. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2007;20(3):595-599. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/039463200702000317.

What are the best eye drops for dry eyes? A pharmacist explains.

Dry eyes are a common condition that can cause symptoms like stinging, burning, itching, redness, and a gritty sensation. These symptoms occur when your eyes don’t produce enough tears or when the quality of your tears is poor. Choosing the right eye drops depends on how severe your symptoms are, the underlying cause of your dry eye, and your individual needs.

Is there a generic for Restasis eye drops?

The generic option for Restasis eye drops known as cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion. The generic product contains the same active ingredient as the brand name product. It comes as a 0.05% strength in a package that contains 30 or 60 single-dose vials. Continue reading

Can dry eyes cause blurry vision? Which medications help?

Yes, dry eyes can cause blurry or fluctuating vision. This occurs because dry eye syndrome disrupts the tear film that coats the eye’s surface, leading to uneven light refraction and irregularities on the corneal surface. Meibomian gland dysfunction, which affects the oily layer of the tear film, is a major contributor to this problem.

Does Restasis make your eyelashes fall out?

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