How to Use Restasis in 10 Easy Steps

Restasis (cyclosporine) is an FDA-approved eye drop used to treat chronic dry eye. Sometimes, inflammation in and around the eye contributes to dry eye symptoms. Experts believe Restasis works by lowering inflammation, allowing your eyes to produce more natural tears.

Proper eye drop placement and consistent use is key in order to get the most benefit from Restasis. And this can be tricky, especially if you’re new to using eye drops. But with practice, this process should get easier and become routine.

What is Restasis and what is it used for?

Restasis is a prescription eye drop that contains cyclosporine. It’s FDA approved to treat chronic dry eye that’s caused by inflammation in adults and teens ages 16 and older. Healthcare providers may prescribe it if over-the-counter (OTC) dry eye treatments, such as artificial tears, aren’t working well enough on their own.

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How to use Restasis in 10 easy steps

Restasis is available as single-use vials and a multiple-dose bottle (Restasis MultiDose). The instructions for using Restasis vary slightly depending on which form you’re using.

To use Restasis, follow these 10 steps:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water before handling the vial or bottle. Hand sanitizer is an acceptable alternative if soap and water aren’t available.

2. Rotate the vial or bottle gently by turning it upside down and right-side up again a few times.

3. Open the vial or bottle. If you’re using Restasis MultiDose, don’t throw away the cap.

4. When starting a new bottle of Restasis MultiDose, prime the bottle by squeezing two drops onto a tissue or paper towel. This step isn’t needed or recommended if you’re using a single-use vial.

5. Tilt your head back and look up.

6. Create a pocket between your eyeball and eyelid by pulling down your bottom eyelid with one hand.

7. Hold the vial/bottle upside down with your free hand and squeeze 1 drop into the eyelid pocket.

8. Let go of your eyelid and close your eye. Gently press your finger on the inner corner of your eye for at least 1 minute.

9. Repeat steps 5 to 8 for the other eye.

10. Discard the single-use vial. For the Restasis MultiDose, recap the bottle and store it in a dry place at room temperature for your next dose.

It’s important that you don’t let the tip of the vial or bottle touch your eye, fingers, or other surfaces. Doing this can hurt your eye and raise your risk for an infection. Don’t use Restasis if the vials or bottle look like they’ve been damaged.

What happens if you put too much Restasis in your eye?

Squeezing an extra drop or two of Restasis into your eye by mistake is unlikely to cause serious harm. Its effects are limited to your eyes, and almost no medication reaches your bloodstream. But extra drops can cause more side effects than usual, such as eye stinging or redness.

Contact your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing severe or persistent side effects.

How often should you administer Restasis?

The typical dose of Restasis is 1 drop in each eye twice a day, about 12 hours apart. If you also use other eye drops, it’s best to separate them from Restasis by at least 15 minutes. If you use eye ointments, you should use Restasis first, wait 15 minutes, and then apply the ointment.

How long does it take Restasis to start working?

It may take up to 6 months to notice significant dry eye relief with Restasis. But some people begin noticing effects about 1 month after starting it. Generally speaking, the milder your dry eye symptoms are, the sooner you’ll likely feel Restasis start working.

Because it can take time for Restasis to work, your healthcare provider may recommend an OTC lubricating eye drop in the meantime.

Can you use Restasis with contact lenses?

No, you shouldn’t wear contact lenses while administering your Restasis doses. Typically, it’s recommended that people with dry eye avoid wearing contacts as they can worsen symptoms. But if your provider has given you the OK to continue wearing them, you should be aware of how to time your eye drops.

Remove your contact lenses before using Restasis. Administer your drops, as described above. Then wait at least 15 minutes after you’ve finished using Restasis to put your contact lenses back in.

How do you dispose of Restasis?

Single-use vials should be discarded after each use, even if there’s extra liquid left in them. This is because they don’t contain preservatives. So once opened, there’s a risk of leftover liquid becoming contaminated with bacteria or other germs.

Restasis MultiDose, on the other hand, can be used until it’s empty. One bottle should last about 30 days. Restasis MultiDose doesn’t contain preservatives either, but the bottle is specially designed to keep germs out between uses.

Restasis single-use vials and Restasis MultiDose bottles can both be recycled. Simply place them with your other plastics when recycling.

How to save on Restasis

Restasis is available as a brand-name medication. But you can also find the single-use vials as a lower-cost generic. GoodRx can help you save on the average retail price of the brand and generic versions of Restasis.

The price of generic Restasis at certain pharmacies is as low as $97.64 with a free GoodRx discount.

There are also ways to save on brand-name Restasis and Restasis MultiDose:

• Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible for a savings card from the manufacturer that could lower your prescription cost to $0 for up to a 90-day supply.

• Save with patient assistance programs. If you’re uninsured or underinsured or have government insurance, you may be eligible to get Restasis at no cost through the manufacturer’s patient assistance program.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Dima Cheetany, PharmD

Dima Cheetany is a clinical pharmacist, clinical instructor, and academic detailer at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with her Doctor of Pharmacy from Roosevelt University College of Pharmacy in 2016.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

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