Does Restasis work?

One of the most well known dry eye medications is Restasis which was created by and sold by the company Allergan.  The active ingredient in Restasis is Cyclosporine. 

Many patients have seen television commercials on Restasis featuring Dr. Alison Tendler (see the photo to the left) and they come to our Vancouver eye clinic asking our doctors whether Restasis really works or is it all hype and marketing.  The answer is yes, it does work.  It requires the doctor to take enough time to educate the patient on how Restasis works and when the patient can expect results.  If the patient follows the doctor's instructions, relief from dry eye syndrome is likely.  Read more...

Related dry eye articles:

Dry eye syndrome hurts work productivity
Oct 31, 2012

Digital eye strain - who's at risk? - See For Life
Oct 13, 2012

The basic facts about dry eye syndrome - See For Life
Apr 05, 2012

Caffeine improves dry eye syndrome
Apr 18, 2012

Depressed? Anxious? Maybe your eyes are too dry ... - See For Life
Apr 20, 2012

Women, already the worst sufferers of dry eye, make it worse with makeup
Apr 06, 2012

68% of women say that over-the-counter eye drops don't work for dry eye sydrome
Apr 28, 2012

Menopausal women are at high risk of developing dry eye disease
Apr 27, 2012

68% of women say that over-the-counter eye drops don't work for dry eye and half of all adults have dry eye symptoms- survey

Dry eye or dry eye syndrome is common and often chronic problem, especially in older adults, women and people who have had LASIK eye surgery. However, a survey titled the "Allergan Dry Eye Survey" conducted by Harris Interactive, suggests that dry eye syndrome may be even more common than previously believed.

The highlights of the survey are that nearly half of adults have dry eye symptoms and most people don't think that their over-the-counter eye drops are very effective in treating dry eye.  In fact, 68% of women don't think that over-the-counter drops work.  The findings suggest in order to get effective relief that more people will be moving to prescription dry eye medication or other options that require more doctor involvement such as punctal plugs.  The sruvey also found that around 20% of  women over 55 have had dry eye for over 10 years.  That's quite shocking!

And, of course, 69% of people who have dry eye have not gone to see their eye doctor about it.  Maybe people just don't know that there are many highly effective treatment options available beyond over the counter eye drops.

Here are the survey's findings

• 48 percent experience one or more dry eye symptom(s) regularly
• 52 percent of women experience one or more dry eye symptom(s) regularly
• 45 to 54 percent of women who suffer from dry eye symptoms (42 percent) experience blurred vision
• 30 percent of men 55 and older have experienced dry eye symptoms for more than 10 years
• 19 percent of women age 55 and older have experienced dry eye symptoms for more than 10 years
• Women are more likely than men to report experiencing difficulty using the computer as a result of their dry eye symptoms (62 percent vs. 44 percent)
• Approximately two out of five U.S. adults (43 percent) report experiencing difficulty reading as a result of their dry eye symptoms
• Nearly one out of five U.S. adults (19 percent) report using over-the-counter eyedrops to treat symptoms at least five times per week
• 48 percent of U.S. adults who use over-the-counter eyedrops to manage their dry eye symptoms state that their eye care professional or pharmacist influenced their decision to use  over-the-counter drops
• 63 percent  of U.S. adults who use  over-the-counter eyedrops to manage their dry eye symptoms () state that the  over-the-counter drops are only somewhat or not at all successful in managing their dry eye symptoms
• Women who use  over-the-counter eyedrops to manage their dry eye symptoms are more likely than men to state their  over-the-counter drops are only somewhat or not at all successful in managing their dry eye symptoms (68 percent vs. 54 percent)
• 69 percent of U.S. adults who experience one or more dry eye symptom(s) have not visited a eye care professional to treat symptoms
• 41 percent  of five U.S. adults who visited an eye care professional to treat their dry eye symptoms stated that they visited more than once before finding relief (19 percent); or that they still have not found relief (22 percent)

Learn more about dry eye syndrome

• Learn the basics of dry eye syndrome and download the dry eye quiz and dry eye questionnaire to complete and show to your optometrist
• Eye makeup makes dry eye syndrome worse
• Pregnancy and menopause makes dry eye worse
• Caffeine improves dry eye syndrome
• Dry eye syndrome can cause anxiety and depression

Health warning on eye drops

This is a re-post of a glaucoma related topic I addressed last year. I'm posting it again in honor of glaucoma awareness month.  It highlights just one of the ways that glaucoma can sneak up on an unsuspecting patient.

 I've noticed something troubling lately.  People may be misusing eye drops that contain steriods (usually when prescribed by doctor who is not an eye specialist).  Steriod eye drops need to be carefully regimented and their use needs to be monitored by an eye doctor. They should never be taken "as needed". 

If not used properly, steriods can cause glaucoma - a disease that raises the pressure in the eye, damaging the optic nerve and causing permanent vision loss that starts with the peripheral vision and works its way to the centre.  I've seen this problem in my clinic and it is the last thing that a patient expects.  The only way to catch it before it's too late is to see your optometrist for an eye exam.
There are so many things that can sneak up on your health.  People need to see their doctors (not just optometrists) regularly so that issues like this can be nipped in the bud.  I bet dentists could tell similar stories.  Another point is that doctors shouldn't stray beyond their comfort zone or level and area of expertise.  When in doubt, refer the patient.

Eye drops image courtesy of marin/FreeDigitalPhotos.net. 

Health warning on eye drops

I've noticed something troubling lately.  People may be misusing eye drops that contain steroids (usually when prescribed by doctor who is not an eye specialist).  Steroid eye drops need to be carefully regimented and their use needs to be monitored by an eye doctor. They should never be taken "as needed". 

If not used properly, steroids can cause glaucoma - a disease that raises the pressure in the eye, damaging the optic nerve and causing permanent vision loss that starts with the peripheral vision and works its way to the center   I've seen this problem in my clinic and it is the last thing that a patient expects.  The only way to catch it before it's too late is to see your optometrist for an eye exam.

There are so many things that can sneak up on your health.  People need to see their doctors (not just optometrists) regularly so that issues like this can be nipped in the bud.  I bet dentists could tell similar stories.  Another point is that doctors shouldn't stray beyond their comfort zone or level and area of expertise.  When in doubt, refer the patient.


Eye drops image courtesy of marin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.