Restasis
This is a pharmaceutical product that helps increase your eyes’ natural ability to produce tears. If you need more tear production it is likely you are suffering from dry eye syndrome.
Restasis® is a prescription eye drop that our eye doctors use to reduce the inflammatory component of dry eyes. This eye drop is the only FDA approved drop to help increase a person’s tear film production. Restasis® is not an artificial tear or supplemental lubricant. It does not take the place of artificial tears.
Restasis® works by reducing chronic inflammation of the tear producing lacrimal glands, improving both the QUANTITY and the QUALITY of tears produced. Because the medication works through a "turnover" of the cells in the lacrimal glands, its effect has a significant "inertia". This means that the medication must be used for at least 6 weeks before any results will be evident to the patient and the doctor. This inertia also applies when the medication is discontinued (by patients who feel relieved or cured of their dry eye), symptoms will come back several months after the medicine has been discontinued.
Restasis® is available by prescription only. If you think you are suffering from dry eye, it is important to visit us to determine if your sypmtoms are due to dry eye syndrome or if they could be the symptom of some other underlying problem.
This medicine's safety and efficacy has always been considered high, but studies show long term use of Restasis is necessary to validate these results. This medicine is used for treating more serious cases if dry eye for patients that do not wish to use over the counter artificial tears at a high frequency. It is covered by most health plans and patients find it to be very useful to treat this annoying and chronic condition. There is no other company that has any similar competing product that is FDA approved or close to being FDA approved.
According to Allergan Inc., the most common side effect is a temporary burning sensation. Other side effects include eye redness, discharge, watery eyes, eye pain, foreign body sensation, itching, stinging and blurred vision.
