Restasis Ordered Today

[Aaron77]

My doc here in Canada ordered me restasis today as the warm compresses, doxy, refrsh drops, plugs and plenty of flax seed oil don't seem to being giving me much relief.

He says that it works in pretty much everybody that he is giving it to and that it should work within 4-6 weeks... he also says that I should be able to take it on its own... I've heard on this board that it generally does best when started out in combination with some other drugs?

Hopefully it only takes a couple weeks for stuff to get in so I can get started on this next step.

[Lucy]

Congrats, Aaron, and big hope that the Restasis helps you. This is not always taken with another drug. Your doc should be your best instructor on that, not us.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that the Restasis will be a big help to you.
Lucy

[Aaron77]

still waiting on the Restasis to get in.

found this article where a doctor states that his patient success rate with Restasis is approximately 85% to 90%: http://www.ophmanagement.com/article.aspx?article=86348

my opthamologist is saying that it works in everybody that he gives it too.

not sure what to make of these statements as I have heard reports that it only works in 15% of people and others that say 30-50%.

a friend of mine told me the other day his family would get week long ski trips fully paid for by drug companies whose meds his dad had prescribed to his patients, so things such as this have me kind of suspect of many doctors claims as to the wonders of certain drugs. I figure its 3 grand a year for me for Restasis so somebody is going to be making some big money as more and more patients are prescribed this med.

[Sammy B.]

Aaron,

I think the only thing you can do is give the Restasis a real college try. It just might work for you.

How are your symptoms now (almost a year post-LASIK, correct)? Any improvement at all?

- Rose

[Aaron77]

Will be 1 year in Dec.

Definately a bit of impovement from 7-8 months ago but still nowhere near where I feel I need to be. I think a big part of what I percieve to be improvement may just be the fact that mentally and physically I'm coping with it a bit better (not very well but still better) and possibly the summer weather.

[Guest]

I'll be following your posts on this for sure... I see a corneal specialist here on Oct. 30... I'm hoping he'll get some Restasis for me as well (although I wouldn't mind trying a course of doxy first)...

It's too bad that here in Canada it's so hard to get our hands on Restasis... hopefully they'll officially market that product here eventually, so it won't be so hard to get!

[Aaron77]

I'll be following your posts on this for sure... I see a corneal specialist here on Oct. 30... I'm hoping he'll get some Restasis for me as well (although I wouldn't mind trying a course of doxy first)...

It's too bad that here in Canada it's so hard to get our hands on Restasis... hopefully they'll officially market that product here eventually, so it won't be so hard to get!

I had been asking docs for Restasis and Doxy for months, finally 8-months into this ordeal I found an opthamologist that was willing to help. The doxy he prescribed me seems to help maybe a tiny little bit, not to sure about the warm compresses. Since nothing has really worked for me and I still feel like crap he's decided to give me the Restasis - I think they have to try every alternate treatment here before going to Restasis, and it can only be prescribed by an opthamologist. Hopefully the call comes within the next week letting me know I can pick the stuff up.

[Lucy]

Aaron, we will all be rooting for the Restasis to do its' thing on you!!
Please don't get too anxious and overly optomistic as in seeing results right away. Fingers crossed. Lucy

[Aaron77]

Aaron, we will all be rooting for the Restasis to do its' thing on you!!
Please don't get too anxious and overly optomistic as in seeing results right away. Fingers crossed. Lucy

thanks Lucy, I don't expect to see results right away and know that it might not be for me at all, I'm just hoping it will be. keeping my fingers crossed.

I don't know how I'm going to make it through this lasik dry eye stuff yet, I'll just keep trying.

[Guest]

...I think they have to try every alternate treatment here before going to Restasis, and it can only be prescribed by an opthamologist. ...

You're right... because Restasis is not approved for sale in Canada, Health Canada will only allow patients to use it if they have first tried all other approved treatment options available here. It is not available through pharmacies here either - the ophthamologist has to apply for us to use it via Health Canada's Special Access Program... not all ophthamologists are familiar with this process.

I think it's pathetic that there are so many surgeons out there performing Lasik who have failed to educate themselves on treating patients with dry eye. I've waited almost four freaking years for my lasik surgeon to help me with this, and got nothing from him (and therefor I've found myself a new doctor). You've been waiting a long time also... I mean honestly... why should you have had to wait 8 months?? It's ridiculous in my opinion. Dry eye is such a common outcome following Lasik, that they should make it a priority to familiarize themselves with the various treatment options. Alternatively, if they don't wish to familiarize themselves with dry eye treatment protocols, then at the very least, they should familiarize themselves with other ophthamologists in their local area who ARE able to treat these patients.

Whoops... sorry for the rant!

[Lucy]

Great thing, Lasik, eh?

Lasik Jan.2000

[Aaron77]

Whoops... sorry for the rant!

I've had many rants myself, no worries! these lasik docs are making mistakes and screwing up peoples lives for profit only, its not like they are doing legitimately needed life saving surgery where a few bad outcomes can be justified.

The opthamologist that I'm dealing with now does not do lasik and seems to actually care about patient health and not just money. He does however share an office with a lasik doc.

The doxy does seem to help a bit, I wonder if bumping up the dose would do anything?

[Aaron77]

Great thing, Lasik, eh?

Lasik Jan.2000

[Aaron77]

So 3 and half weeks after ordering my Restasis has finally came in, will be making the 41/2 hr drive down south to pick the stuff up at my opthamologists office this Thursday... I hope its going to be worth it.

[ringo]

Hi Aaron,

You were asking about starting restasis with another medication. According to my doctor that depends on the extent of inflammation on the eye surface. If there is a strong inflammation, restasis will not resolve it, even after 4-6 weeks. If there is a light inflammation, you can hope results will kick in by the end of the first 3 months with restasis on its own.

Unfortunately in my case the inflammation was so strong that I had also developed episcleritis. So i had to start the restasis together with a weak steroid. That way the relief is faster and more pronounced.

You may consult your doctor about the extent of inflammation that he observes in your eyes.