My primary opthal Rx'd me Restasis. The 2nd opinion opthal Rx'd me the ointment. The 2nd Dr. says that my glands are clogged. I've been reading about Restasis, and all it says is it will increase the amount of tears output. If the ducts are clogged, how can it?

I am leaning more toward continuing with the ointment as it IS for clogged oil ducts. I need to ask my primary Dr. about this, but was wondering what anyone here would do, if in my boots?:D All I know is I want my blurred left eye better.

Restasis is a form of Cyclosporine, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. The idea is to reduce the inflammation in your lacrimal glands, thereby allowing them to produce more tears. However, that only helps with the production of the watery layer of tears. The mucus and oil layer of tears comes from the Meibomian glands in your eyelids.


I guess your doctor prescribed the Erythromycin ointment to get rid of any bacteria on your eyelids that could cause Blepharitis. My friend had Blepharitis Rosacea, and my doctor (who else would I send him to?) prescribed Tobradex ointment and lid scrubs for him for a few months, and he's fine now. Restasis is only going to help with the watery layer of tears. It doesn't work on the Meibomian glands unless they are inflamed, and even then all it's going to do is help with the inflammation. So actually, I think that if you use both the Erythromycin ointment and the Restasis, you are hitting the dryness from both ends.

I tried Cyclosporine drops in my eyes before it was even FDA approved. My doctor put me in touch with a compounding pharmacy in San Jose, Californnia that makes it. It never helped. I evenutally developed a sensitivity to it. But, we thought we'd try Restasis anyway when it came out, since it was a different formulation than the Cyclosporine I was using. Well, I found out the hard way that I am severely allergic to it! My eyelids turned shades of red that I have never seen before! It took weeks of allergy drops and steroids to get them back to "normal".

The meibomian glands don't produce the mucus. The conjunctiva does. Or more specifically the goblet cells in the conjunctiva. Anyway, I hope you people get better eventually.

The meibomian glands don't produce the mucus. The conjunctiva does. Or more specifically the goblet cells in the conjunctiva. Anyway, I hope you people get better eventually.


Thanks. :) You see, I learn something new everyday!

Conjunctiva--Hmm. Now, I'm beginning to wonder if I've got either a mild case of pinkeye or some other kind of bug due to the "bubbly" nature (sometimes) of the goop.
As usual, my next Dr. appt. is too far off!

If you have conjunctivitis, either your eye, or your inner eyelid would be very red and inflamed.