What Works to Treat Dry Eye? The Best Eye Drops and Home Remedies
You can treat chronic dry eyes with prescription medication, OTC eye drops, and even home remedies like omega-3. Explore the best eye drops for dry eye relief here.
Cequa
Used for Dry Eye
Used for Dry Eye
Cequa (cyclosporine) is an eye drop that helps relieve signs and symptoms of dry eye. It works best when used every day, twice a day, for at least 3 months. After using a dose, the vial will need to be thrown away since it doesn't contain any preservatives. The most common side effects include eye pain and eye redness. It's only available as a brand medication, so a generic version is not available.
What is Cequa (cyclosporine)?
What is Cequa (cyclosporine) used for?
- Dry eyes in adults
How Cequa (cyclosporine) works
Cequa (cyclosporine) is a calcineurin inhibitor. Calcineurin is a protein in your body that raises inflammation, including in your eyes. By blocking calcineurin from working, Cequa (cyclosporine) lowers inflammation, which then helps your eyes make more tears.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Cequa |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Immunosuppressant |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
More on Cequa (cyclosporine) essentials
Side effects of Cequa (cyclosporine)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Eye pain (22%)
- Eye redness (6%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Eyelid swelling
- Eye irritation
- Headache
- Urinary tract infection
The following Cequa (cyclosporine) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- New or worsening eye pain, redness, irritation, or discharge
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Blurry vision
- Eye irritation or itching
Get your GoodRx coupon
$807.11
GoodRx discount
$629.24
Pros and cons of Cequa (cyclosporine)
Pros
- Helps your body produce its own tears
- Can be used with other lubricating eye drops, such as artificial tears
- Designed to deliver more medication to the affected area
Cons
- Can cause eye pain during application
- It's not clear whether this medication is safe or works well for children
- Can't be used with contact lenses
Pharmacist tips for Cequa (cyclosporine)
- Always wash your hands with soap and water before using Cequa (cyclosporine). The medication should only be applied to your eyes.
- If you have to use another eye drop in the same eye(s), wait at least 15 minutes after using Cequa (cyclosporine). This gives enough time for both eye drops to absorb properly into your eye(s).
- Make sure to take your contact lenses out before using Cequa (cyclosporine). Wait at least 15 minutes before putting your lenses back in.
- Don't let the tip of the Cequa (cyclosporine) vial touch the eye or other surfaces. Doing so can contaminate the medication with bacteria.
- To use Cequa (cyclosporine), pull down your lower eyelid with one hand and hold the bottle upside down with the other. Squeeze 1 drop, then close your eye, and press your finger on the corner of your eye closest to your nose for a minute. Doing this helps the medication stay in your eye and prevents it from leaking into your nose.
- After you've used a drop of Cequa (cyclosporine) in each eye, throw the vial away. Don't save the leftover medication. Since single-use vials don't contain preservatives to prevent bacteria from growing, using leftover medication can raise your risk of an eye infection.
Risks and warnings for Cequa (cyclosporine)
Cequa (cyclosporine) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Eye injury or infection
Don't let the tip of the vial touch the eye, eyelid, fingers, or other surfaces. Doing so can contaminate Cequa (cyclosporine) and cause serious harm to the eye, such as infection and vision loss.
Use with contact lenses
Don't use Cequa (cyclosporine) while wearing contact lenses. If you wear contact lenses, consider taking them out before using this medication. You can put your contact lenses back in 15 minutes after using Cequa (cyclosporine).
Cequa (cyclosporine) dosage
The average cost for 1 box of 60 vials of 0.09% of Cequa (cyclosporine) is $629.24 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 22.04% off the average retail price of $807.11. 
Box
Box| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 vials of 0.09% | 1 box | $629.24 | $629.24 |
Typical dosage for Cequa (cyclosporine)
Each drop of Cequa (cyclosporine) contains 0.09% of cyclosporine.
- Adults: The typical dose is to place 1 drop in affected eye(s) twice a day, 12 hours apart.
More on Cequa (cyclosporine) dosage
How much does Cequa (cyclosporine) cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Cequa (brand)
$629.24
What are alternatives to Cequa (cyclosporine)?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Cequa (cyclosporine). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
News about Cequa (cyclosporine)
Restasis vs. Cequa vs. Verkazia: 7 Differences Between These Cyclosporine Eye Drops
Restasis, Cequa, and Verkazia are medications that can help with dry eye symptoms. Verkazia, however, is specifically used to treat seasonal eye irritation.
Cequa Dosages for Adults: Your GoodRx Guide
Cequa is a prescription eye drop used to treat dry eye disease. The recommended dosage is one drop in each eye twice daily, approximately 12 hours apart.
