Cyclosporine for Dry Eye: How It Works and What You Need to Know
When your eyes feel gritty, burning, or constantly dry, it’s not just discomfort—it’s often cyclosporine for dry eye, an immunosuppressant eye drop used to treat chronic dry eye caused by inflammation. Also known as Restasis, it doesn’t just add moisture—it fixes the root problem: your immune system attacking your tear glands. Unlike artificial tears that mask symptoms, cyclosporine works over weeks to calm the inflammation that stops your eyes from making their own tears.
This is especially important if you have Sjögren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune disease where the body attacks moisture-producing glands, leading to chronic dry eyes and dry mouth. People with this condition often don’t respond to lubricating drops alone because the problem isn’t lack of tears—it’s lack of tear production. Cyclosporine helps restore that. It’s also used for other forms of dry eye linked to eye inflammation, a hidden driver behind persistent dryness that’s often misdiagnosed as simple irritation. Studies show it can increase tear production by 30-50% after 3-6 months of daily use.
What makes cyclosporine different? It’s not a quick fix. You won’t feel better overnight. Most people start noticing changes after 2 months, with full results taking up to 6. That’s why so many quit too soon. But if you stick with it, your eyes can start producing tears again—naturally. It’s not for everyone: you can’t use it if you have an active eye infection, and some feel a brief stinging when they apply it. But for those with long-term dryness tied to autoimmune issues, it’s one of the few treatments that actually changes the disease process.
It’s not the only option—there are newer drops like lifitegrast—but cyclosporine remains a cornerstone because it’s been studied for over 20 years and works for a wide range of people. If you’ve tried every lubricant and still feel like sand is in your eyes, this might be the missing piece. Below, you’ll find real posts that dig into how it fits into broader treatment plans, what side effects to watch for, how it connects to conditions like Sjögren’s, and why some patients respond better than others. This isn’t just about eye drops—it’s about understanding why your body stopped making tears in the first place.
Dry Eye Treatments: Cyclosporine, Lifitegrast, and Plugs Explained
Learn how cyclosporine, lifitegrast, and punctal plugs treat dry eye differently-timing, side effects, costs, and what actually works based on real clinical data and patient experiences.
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