Can Restasis damage your eyes?

Key Points

• Restasis (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) is an eye drop medication that is used to treat chronic dry eye.
• Restasis can cause side effects such as burning, stinging, and redness in the eyes. These side effects either get better with time or go away once treatment is stopped.
• Restasis can cause damage to the eye if you touch the vial or bottle tip to your eye. This can lead to direct injury to the eye or an infection.
• No serious side effects have been reported by patients taking Restasis for up to 3 years.

Restasis (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) is an eye drop that is FDA approved to treat keratoconjunctivitis sicca (chronic dry eye). It works by reducing inflammation in the eyes that causes poor tear production. As a result, it increases tear production which helps reduce symptoms of dry eye.

Patients taking Restasis often need to take it long-term to control dry eye symptoms. Restasis can take up to 6 months to be fully effective, and studies have shown that patients who stop taking it typically experience a return of dry eye symptoms.

Restasis can damage your eyes if you touch the tip of the vial or multi-dose bottle to your eye. Doing so may cause inflammation in the eye, or it can lead to an eye infection. Avoid touching the tip of your Restasis container to your eye to prevent contamination and damage to your eye.

Does Restasis cause side effects in the eyes?

In studies, 17% of patients taking Restasis reported a burning sensation in their eyes. Additionally, 1-5% of patients who took Restasis reported stinging in the eyes, eye redness, itchy eyes, blurry vision, and eye pain. These side effects are usually temporary and should get better within the hours after you take your dose.

If you experience severe side effects from Restasis, contact your prescriber. They can help you manage side effects and decide if you need to stop taking Restasis and take a different medication instead.

Related questions

• Is there a generic for Restasis eye drops?
• Xiidra vs. Restasis: Which is better for dry eye?
• Why is Restasis so expensive?

Is it safe to use Restasis long-term?

One study showed that Restasis is safe to use for up to 3 years. More research is needed to know whether Restasis continues to be safe beyond this time, but there is no indication that it causes long-term side effects.

When should you stop using Restasis?

There are some situations where you should stop taking Restasis and contact your eye specialist. These include if you think you are having an allergic reaction and if you think you may have an eye infection.

Stop taking Restasis and seek medical attention if you experience the following symptoms:

• Eye swelling
• Hives
• Trouble breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Eye discharge
• Eye redness or pain that is not getting better

This is not all of the information you need to know to use Restasis safely. Talk to your healthcare provider for more information.