There seems to be some interest in personal experiences with the new
drug Restasis, so I'll share mine.  For about three years, I've been
suffering from dry eye and meibomitis (dysfunctional oil glands near
the eyelashes).  I've had an absolutely miserable time of it.  But
Restasis has been a huge help.

Here's a bit of pre-Restasis background: For the dry eye, I had
punctum plugs inserted in both lower ducts and I used
preservative-free drops every hour or so.  For the meibomitis, I was
given doxycycline (100 mg/day) and I hot-packed my lids several times
a day.  Even with this treatment combination, I was still suffering
from dry eye and visibly inflamed oil glands (they looked like tiny
white bumps above the lash line).  I also had some general eyelid
inflammation due to all of the irritation that both of these
conditions cause.

I started on Restasis about 2 months ago, and I am thrilled with the
results. The eyelid and oil-gland inflammation has already been
noticeably reduced, and my tear production feels much more normal.
Every week, my eyes get better.  That said, it took several weeks
before I noticed _any_ difference.   The drops have a gradual
effect--I've read that it can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months for the
full effect to be felt--so it requires patience and commitment.

I have to use the Restasis drops every morning and night, and they're
expensive, but they're very, very worthwhile.  The only negative
side-effect that I've experienced is a burning sensation when I
instill the drops.  That sensation goes away after several minutes.

Right now, my insurance covers 80 percent of the cost (a 30-day supply
is $100), but I would willingly pay the full price for the amount of
relief the drops have given me.

-haubrey