Restasis dilemma?

[eyes78]

I have been diagnosed with MGD and dry eyes. It is not clinically severe - no corneal damage. My only symptom was eye burning late in the day (well my eyes are painfully dry when I wake up but they improve once I yawn and make some tears).

If I remember correctly, my Schirmers scores were about 8 and my TBUT was about 6. So not good but not horrible. (right?)

My symptoms were practically debilitating, though, as I work on the computer all day.

About 3 weeks ago I was put on Restasis, doxycycline, lotemax, warm compresses. I've been taking omega-3 supplements for years but I stepped up the dosage to about 2.4g of omega-3/day (in about 4.6g of oil, Theratears Nutrition).

I only did the steroids for about 2 weeks (what the Dr. ordered) and I think they improved my symptoms immensely. Then I stopped the steroids (lotemax) and everything just got even worse. The burning was unbearable.

The Restasis felt fine when I put it in but my eyes would start burning 3-4 hours later and not stop until I went to sleep. It was so bad yesterday I was almost crying at my desk. The burning was so intense it was throbbing, felt like it was eating holes into my head.

I didn't do the Restasis last night or this morning. My eyes are not great today but there is no burning. Just regular dryness that I can tolerate.

What do you all think of just stopping the Restasis? Do you think with my issues I can just do the other stuff (mainly the warm compresses and omega 3's, I know I can't do the doxy forever).

I know you're not doctors, I just want opinions. I honestly don't think I can bring myself to ever put another drop of Restasis in my eyes.

Thank you so much.

[Peppermint]

If Restasis is bothering you so much, I would stop the restasis. See how it goes with just the doxy, warm compresses, and the omega 3s. Try using alrex, which is a milder version of lotemax (still a steroid), when you are having a bad day. I was told by several eye specialists that you can remain on low dose doxy indefinitely if it's helping. Since you work on the computer all day, try to take breaks and do blinking exercises (blink hard and hold for a few seconds, then open. Repeat a few times.) Also, when you get home from work, if you can, rest your eyes from all that computer use.

Good luck and I hope you feel better!

[eyes78]

Thank you so much Peppermint, I will do all of that. I appreciate your suggestions.

[PotatoCakes]

You may want to consider cyclosporine from Leiter's. It needs to be refrigerated but it doesn't have the carrier that Restasis does; I found that it burned a lot less (to not at all, depending on my eye condition). Your doctor can call a prescription into Leiter's and then you call and give them your credit card and they will ship it to you. I used it for a while and then was able to go back to regular Restasis without issue.

[eyes78]

Thanks for the advice, PotatoCakes. I think for now I'll just see how I do with the warm compresses and omega 3 supplements. But I appreciate your input.

[Mawsky]

You may want to consider cyclosporine from Leiter's. It needs to be refrigerated but it doesn't have the carrier that Restasis does; I found that it burned a lot less (to not at all, depending on my eye condition). Your doctor can call a prescription into Leiter's and then you call and give them your credit card and they will ship it to you. I used it for a while and then was able to go back to regular Restasis without issue.

Just wondering if the price is about the same, and is it covered under insurance? I tried Restasis 3 times, the first time I kept using it for about 3-4 months with no improvement and eyes getting worse. the second time I can't remember how long I was able to tolerate it, but quit because of the horrible burning that started about 10-15 minutes after putting it in, I would litterly flush my eyes with drops to try and make it stop, the 3rd time I only used it a few times and my eyes were doing great when I started, they sent me into such a mess, worse dryness, and such burning. I would be willing to try something new if it could help.