Chronic Dry Eye - YouLookFab Forum

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Chronic Dry Eye

Anonymous

I've had chronic dry eye for a couple of years now, and asked for a prescription when I visited my eye doctor today. He prescribed Restasis, which is extremely expensive without insurance. With my insurance, the cost goes down to "only" $105 for a 90-day supply. Luckily, his office gave me a manufacturer discount card, which brought the price down to only $30. Also, his nurse told me how to make that 90-day supply last a full year. At any rate, does anyone have any experience with these drops? How good are they compared to OTC drops like Systane Restorative Formula (what I have been using up until today)?

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16 replies

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JAileen

Veteran

I used them for awhile, a year or two maybe. I had Lasik surgery and it affects the tearing. Plus I live in a desert. I loved them. They sting a little, and then soothe. I kind of liked that feeling. I stopped using them because my eyes weren't so dry anymore. I don't know anything about the other drops you mention.

Anonymous

I had my choice between this brand, which stings, and another brand that causes a bad flavor in your mouth. I decided that stinging sounded better, lol. I mean, how badly can it sting, right?

Kate

Veteran

Some years ago, I was prescribed Restasis for my dry eye condition. I used them faithfully for a year, and found they made no difference in my condition. They did sting, and I found them uncomfortable. Never got any of the soothing aspect that JAileen mentions. So I went back to Systane, which I had been using prior to Restasis, and which I continue to use.

Anonymous

I have been using Systane, but some days my eyes bother me so much that I feel like I have to flood them with drops, and even then I don't get that much relief. I guess the only way I'll know if Restasis will help is to try it. At least I'm not out that much $, and I still have an unopened bottle of Systane at home in case I want to go back to that.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

My doctor recommended the Eye Promise EZ Tears supplement and I find it very helpful: https://www.amazon.com/EyeProm....._it?ie=UTF

Anonymous

I used the Restasis last night & again this morning - no stinging whatsoever.

JayS

Veteran

I've used Restasis for a couple of years. It helps but doesn't completely alleviate the problem. I notice the gritty feeling if I don't use it for a couple of days. I just had tear duct plugs inserted last week to see if that will help. The eye doctor gave me some samples of Retaine to try..eyedrops that are a bit more oily. So far, I like it. Good luck.

Anonymous

Thanks, JayS.

Marmee

Veteran

BC, my sister-in-law was diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome, which causes dry eyes, as well as other symptoms. I know that you've mentioned severe pains and I wondered if any of your doctor's had tested for Sjogren's.

I'm not a medical professional, but I just wondered about your symptoms, as my SIL said that Sjögren's is fairly common, and under diagnosed. She changed her diet and started following the Wahl Protocol diet, and has been symptom free.

Anonymous

What is the Wahl Protocol diet? If it has meat or dairy in it, I can't do it because meat & dairy cause digestive issues for me. I feel so much better on a vegan diet that there's no going back.

Staysfit

Veteran

IMO, dry eyes are the kind of thing that require a qualified doctor's input and advice. I would never mess around with eyes because they are too delicate and vulnerable. If restasis was prescribed, I suggest you try it for a while and come back and give us your evaluation about whether it was halpful. If the treatment works, but is costly than maybe you will need to rework your budget? If it doesn't work then perhaps you should revisit the doctor.

Anonymous

The only reason I care about how much I have to pay for the Rx is because every year, my DH has to estimate how much we think we'll have to spend on medical expenses so he can figure out how much $ to put on our flex pay card. This is a card we use strictly for medical expenses. The $ put on it is not taxed. However, we lose the $ not spent, and have to pay out of our regular budget when there's no $ left on the card before the calendar year ends.

I go to the doctor that performed my cataract surgery. He's the best in this entire area.

catseye

Veteran

I have dry eyes too. My ophthalmologists refused to prescribe me any drops. She thinks they are too expensive and don't make too much of a difference. She told me to use gel drops. 4 times a day. And take fish oil. She thinks fish oil makes a big difference in dry eye. At least in her own experience.

Anonymous

I don't take fish oil. I take flax seed oil. That said, at this point the Restasis does seem to work better than Systane, and with less drops per eye. I'll see how it goes.

Nebraskim

Veteran

My 86yo mother died a couple weeks ago, and they had just refilled a 90-day Restasis prescription. I have dry eyes (my own diagnosis, not a doctor's) and decided to use the drops rather than toss several hundred dollars away (the pharmacy will take it back but won't refund the costs). So I am trying them and so far, they seem to work well. I decided to follow the prescription's orders (2 drops twice each day in each eye) for a week to see how it's working and it's doing well. I am going to cut back to one drop twice a day each eye to stretch the prescription out. I pop the top on and off the dropper and get 2 days out of each little squeeze bottle. The Restasis seems to work better for me but I still am using OTC lubricant drops like Refresh and Systane as I am apparently addicted to the cooling feeling of the drops. Once this scrip runs out, I doubt I will take the time/money to go to a doc to get diagnosed and fill my own scrip, however.

Anonymous

To stretch the Rx out, my eye doctor's nurse told me not to discard the vial. Instead I'm supposed to recap it and use it again until I run out of drops. I did that, but had to make sure I had a place to prop up the vial so as not to spill anything. I did go from Friday night until Sunday night with the first vial, so that's good.

Whether I refill the Rx or not will depend on how well this works. So far, it's working better than Systane. I still have a sealed, unopened bottle of Systane in case I want to use it.