Restasis and plugs

[Trac]

Has anyone ever noticed that on the packet of information that comes with Restasis the manufacture says that Restasis is to be used without plugs.

I mentioned this to my doctor early on, I have been on Restasis for over 2 years, and my doctor said he often has his patients use plugs and Restasis together.

I can only think that perhaps the medical, clinical trials were performed without plugs so that is the only way it can be stated in the literature.

Also I am pretty sure that I read in the packet that prolong or excessive use of Restasis can cause cancer, but there were no details as to how long, how much Restasis or what type of cancer.

Any thoughts?

[nitrodrops]

Hi Trac,

how long have you been on both Retassis and Plugs? Any improvements?

My DES specialists asked me to try plugs too, after seeing no improvements on Restasis after 8months. Now currently using Plugs and Restasis into 2nd month.

[Trac]

I have been on restasis for 2 1/2 years. I have had plugs for 2 years. In the beginning I would lose a plug about once a month. I have not lost one in about 9 months. I can feel the difference if I lose a plug. The Restasis helps me a lot more if I take it more than 2x daily. I asked my doctor about increasing the dosage after reading about it on this forum. He said that was fine.

I don't feel normal by any account, but I am much better than the worse I have been. And for the most part I can figure out how to get by in most situations. I do wear eye moisture chamber goggles all of the time. It really helps a lot, but you have to get over the embarrassment factor.

[nitrodrops]

do you

1.) use any other eye drops to go along with Restasis?
2.) do warm compresses
3.) consume Theratears capsules (aka Omega-3)
4.) what is your schrimer score
5.) are you a post-lasik DES

i am using Refresh+, Systane & Restasis, 4 times per/day, each time 5 mins interval for each drops. It helps me to last throughout the day. Yeah, i am wearing tight glasses (close to googles) in windy environments.

I dont like the idea to be on Restasis forever too.

[Trac]

I use serum 20% 8 x day, that helps a lot. It is the only thing that never burns my eyes. In the beginning, I started serum in April; it gave me a lot of relief. Now sometimes my eyes feel dry again in about 15 minutes. I no longer use any artificial tears, just the serum.

Mucomyst to dissolve my filaments up to 4x daily. This seems to help, but sometimes it leaves my eyes feeling sticky because the filaments are still there, but real thin.
Restasis up to 4 x daily, more than twice a day is way better than just 2 x day.
Muro drops up to 4 x day, I don't use these very often since I started the mucomyst.
Muro ointment and FML ointment at night.
50 mg Doxy daily, I am on my 3rd month
3600 mg fish oil daily.
1/8 cup flax seed daily
5 mg Phiocarpine (I cut them in half and use them about 4 x daily). These are to increase mucus secretions, but they make me feel like I have the flu for 20 minutes after I take them if I take them full strength.

I try to do warm compresses after I put in the ointment before I go to sleep. I tried cold compress last night at bed time. I don't know how well either works, but it feels nice.

I wear eye moisture chamber goggles all of the time. Even while I am teaching high school students.

My schrimer score is 0, and 0

I have never had Lasik.

I hope this helps.

[nitrodrops]

Hope things do get better for you.

What did your doctor diagnose? MGD? not producing enough tears or quality tears?

[Trac]

Diagnoses:
Not enough tears, one doctor said I did not produce any tears.
Tears that are produced are of poor quality. Not enough lipid layer, which causes fast evaporation and filaments in my eyes
Bacteria in my oil glands -MGD - rosacea and keratitis and Blepharitis
SLK the clear layer over the Sclera is too large and every time I blink the layer folds and rubs causing irritation and inflamation

Life is livable, I think part of it is that I have gotten use to the pain and discomfort and now accept it as part of my daily life. Depending on how my eyes feel at the moment dry, sticky, gloppy I add different eye drops. Continuous formation of filaments is one of my biggest issues. This causes foreign body sensation, it can obscure my vision severely, and when they are removed my eyes feel dryer than before.

[jadavispcfl]

Loss of Meibomian Glands

Has your doctor mentioned that the meibomian glands could become atrophic? I wonder if that has happened to anyone out there.