FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT CHRONIC DRY EYE
Chronic Dry Eye syndrome, also known as Chronic Dry Eye disease, is a condition that can be caused by advanced age,
contact lens wear, certain medications, eye diseases, other medical conditions, or environmental factors. One type of
Chronic Dry Eye is caused by reduced tear production due to inflammation. When you can’t make enough of your own
real tears, the film protecting the eye can break down, creating dry spots on the surface of the eye.
If you think you might have Chronic Dry Eye syndrome,
take the Chronic Dry Eye quiz, then share your answers
with your doctor and ask for a screening.
An optometrist, ophthalmologist, or your primary care physician can diagnose and treat your type of Chronic
Dry Eye. Find an optometrist or ophthalmologist near you or use our new telehealth option.
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors (MDs) or osteopathic doctors (DOs). Optometrists are doctors of optometry
(ODs) and healthcare professionals for the eye. Both are eye doctors and can screen you for Chronic Dry Eye disease.
Either one can diagnose and prescribe RESTASIS® or RESTASIS MultiDose® for Chronic Dry Eye disease caused by
reduced tear production due to inflammation.
Use this to find an eye doctor near you. Once you find an eye doctor, make a medical appointment
to get screened for Chronic Dry Eye disease. Before your appointment, take the Chronic Dry Eye quiz
and share your responses with your doctor.
When you arrive for your appointment, tell the office staff you want to get screened for Chronic Dry Eye disease
and discuss treatment options with your eye doctor. Go here to learn more about preparing for your doctor appointment.
Artificial tears are over-the-counter eye drops that provide temporary relief, but do not increase your eyes'
ability to make their own tears. RESTASIS® (also available as RESTASIS MultiDose®) is the
only prescription treatment proven to help you make more of your own real tears.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
RESTASIS® is the only prescription medication proven to help you make more of your own real tears.
If you prefer your eye drops in a bottle, RESTASIS MultiDose® may be a great option. It's the same
preservative-free RESTASIS® formulation doctors have prescribed 6.4 million times since 2003,*
in a patented bottle design. Compared to RESTASIS® single-use vials, RESTASIS MultiDose®
is more compact, uses less plastic in packaging, and is the same price in comparison to a package of single-use
vials. RESTASIS® and RESTASIS MultiDose® help increase your eyes’ natural ability
to produce tears, which may be reduced by inflammation due to Chronic Dry Eye disease. RESTASIS®
and RESTASIS MultiDose® did not increase tear production in patients using anti-inflammatory
eye drops or tear duct plugs.
*RESTASIS® (single-use vials) Projected Patient Counts, SOW 2016-04
Any physician can prescribe RESTASIS® and RESTASIS MultiDose®.
Making more of your own real tears is a real possibility when you give RESTASIS® or
RESTASIS MultiDose® time. In a 6-month study, patients made significantly more of their own
real tears. Individual results may vary.
Use 1 drop of RESTASIS® or RESTASIS MultiDose® twice a day in each eye,
12 hours apart—every day.
Please contact your eye doctor if you have questions regarding the proper use of RESTASIS® or
RESTASIS MultiDose®.
You may experience some temporary burning and stinging. This may be a response to treatment. If you have concerns,
or this persists, follow up with your eye doctor immediately. Other side effects include eye redness, discharge,
watery eyes, eye pain, foreign body sensation, itching, stinging, and blurred vision. Talk to your eye doctor, and
see the Important Safety Information and the full Product Information to learn more.
Do not use RESTASIS® or RESTASIS MultiDose® if you are allergic to any of the
ingredients. Talk to your eye doctor, and see the Important Safety Information and the full
Product Information to learn more.
Be sure to tell your eye doctor about any other medications you use. RESTASIS® or
RESTASIS MultiDose® can be used with artificial tears as long as you wait 15 minutes between
products. Over time with RESTASIS® or RESTASIS MultiDose®, you may rely less on
artificial tears. Individual results may vary.
Chronic Dry Eye disease is a treatable but chronic condition with no permanent cure. As long as you continuously
use RESTASIS® or RESTASIS MultiDose®, as prescribed by your eye doctor, twice a day,
every day, approximately 12 hours apart, you may continue to make more of your own real tears. Individual results
may vary.
Yes, you can use RESTASIS® or RESTASIS MultiDose® if you wear contact lenses.
Your contact lenses should be removed prior to use of RESTASIS® or
RESTASIS MultiDose® and may be put back in after 15 minutes.
RESTASIS® and RESTASIS MultiDose® are not artificial tears. Both are
prescription medications. Artificial tears provide temporary relief, but can’t help you make more of your own tears;
only prescription RESTASIS® or RESTASIS MultiDose® can do that. RESTASIS®
and RESTASIS MultiDose® did not increase tear production in patients using anti-inflammatory
eye drops or tear duct plugs.
No. RESTASIS MultiDose® is the same price as RESTASIS® single-use vials.
Yes, you will receive three 5.5-mL multidose bottles, which are intended for a 90-day supply.
RESTASIS® and RESTASIS MultiDose® did not increase tear production in patients using
anti-inflammatory eye drops or tear duct plugs.
Talk to your optometrist or ophthalmologist to find out if RESTASIS® or RESTASIS MultiDose®
is right for you.
When using RESTASIS MultiDose® for the first time:
- Pull off the clear shipping cover by pulling straight up, and then throwing it away.
- Next remove the pull tab on the green-colored protective cap by pulling the end of the pull tab away from the bottle, then winding it counterclockwise. Throw the pull tab away. Don't use RESTASIS MultiDose® if either the shipping cover or the pull tab are damaged or missing.
- Then remove the green-colored protective cap by pulling it straight up. Be sure to keep this protective cap.
- Prime the bottle for the first time by squeezing 2 drops onto a tissue. Don't let the bottle tip touch the tissue.
- Then place the green-colored protective cap back by pushing it straight down onto the bottle. Now RESTASIS MultiDose® is ready to use.
For RESTASIS MultiDose® daily use:
- Turn the bottle upside down a few times to make sure the medicine is mixed well.
- Instill one drop in each eye.
- Then replace the green-colored protective cap by pushing it straight down onto the bottle until you're ready to use RESTASIS MultiDose® again.
- Do not touch the bottle tip to your eye or other surfaces.
When using single-use RESTASIS® vials do the following:
- Before using RESTASIS®, turn the single-dose vial upside down a few times to shake it up and make sure you get a uniform, white, opaque emulsion.
- Do not touch the vial tip to your eye or other surfaces.
- Discard each single-dose vial after use.
RESTASIS® is packaged in single-use vials because it does not contain preservatives. Use 1 vial each time,
and immediately discard after use.
No. RESTASIS® is packaged in single-use vials because it does not contain any preservatives. So, it is
important that 1 vial be used each time and immediately discarded after each use. If you would prefer to not discard
leftover medication, ask for RESTASIS MultiDose®. It is the same RESTASIS® formulation
in a bottle. The patented RESTASIS MultiDose® is the only FDA-approved,
preservative-free medication in a bottle.
According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), if your medicine has expired, it may not provide the treatment
you need. Talk to your pharmacist or eye doctor for specific advice.
Yes. RESTASIS® and RESTASIS MultiDose® do not contain corn, wheat,
oats, barley, rye, spelt, or ingredients derived from those grains.
Each milliliter (mL) contains an active ingredient of cyclosporine 0.05% and inactive ingredients of glycerin,
castor oil, polysorbate 80, carbomer copolymer type A, purified water, and sodium hydroxide to adjust pH.
Yes. They are recycle code #4. Keep in mind the RESTASIS MultiDose® bottle uses
less plastic than a package of single-use vials, so there is less plastic to be recycled.
INSURANCE AND COST
Check with your insurance plan. You may have both vision insurance and medical insurance. Vision insurance may pay only for routine visual exams. Medical insurance may pay for exams that check for eye diseases including Chronic Dry Eye disease. Insurance plan coverage and out-of-pocket cost will vary depending on your individual plan.
Some eye doctors accept both vision insurance and medical insurance, depending on the reason for your visit. To get screened for a type of Chronic Dry Eye disease, don’t wait for your annual vision exam because screening for a disease is more likely to be covered by your medical insurance.
When you schedule your Chronic Dry Eye disease screening, make sure the office staff schedules you for a medical appointment and not your annual vision exam.
The cost of RESTASIS® and RESTASIS MultiDose® varies depending on the pharmacy you use and your insurance plan coverage.
RESTASIS® and RESTASIS MultiDose® are covered by most insurance plans; however, formulary status, insurance plan coverage,
and out-of-pocket cost will vary depending on your individual plan. Eligible patients can also save more with a My Tears, My Rewards® Savings Card.
According to state and federal laws, patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or a
similar federal or state healthcare program are not eligible for savings programs.
This includes Medicare patients who are in the donut hole.
SAVINGS AND SUPPORT
By enrolling in the My Tears, My Rewards® Program, eligible patients can save on every RESTASIS® and RESTASIS MultiDose® prescription.
Enroll now to get a My Tears, My Rewards® Savings Card.
The My Tears, My Rewards® Program is a savings and support program offered to eligible patients free of charge.
Simply click here to see if you're eligible and get a Savings Card instantly.
You can also have a Savings Card sent via text message.
Go to your pharmacy and present your Savings Card along with your RESTASIS® or RESTASIS MultiDose®
prescription to your pharmacist. If your mail-order pharmacy
or pharmacy does not accept your Savings Card, get a claim form here.
Print and complete the form, attach your receipt, and send both to the address on the form.
In three to six weeks your check will arrive in the mail.
Go to the enroll page and fill in your information. You can either receive your new card instantly on the website,
or get it through a text message.
According to state and federal laws, patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or a similar federal or state healthcare program, are not eligible for savings programs.
