Can Restasis cause eye floaters?

[ashesx90]

I started Restasis about a week ago. I had no issues using it at first. On day two I noticed little black dots that would not go away. I had seen these before but they always went away within a few minutes. Unfortunately they just would NOT go away this time. I'm new to Restasis and I haven't seen floaters listed as a side effect for Restasis. There are a few people who claim it has happened to them but I wanted to ask some doctors to get their opinions. My doctor said no but I'm still not completely convinced. I'm only 26 years old and this was never an on going issue before until I started Restasis so I'm just afraid it will never get better or go away.

[gpale]

i have been on restasis about 2 months on my first week i was really depressed and cried about something. that night when i put a single drop on my eyes it burned really bad. when i woke up i saw lots of floaters i hadn't got any i have been on restasis about 2 months on my first week i was really depressed and cried about something. that night when i put a single drop on my eyes it burned really bad. when i woke up i saw lots of floaters i hadn't got any untill then. now in really depressed really really depressed i dk will my floaters go away. maybe its not about restasis its about burning burning

[JohnHaganMD]

discuss your concerns with the doctor that ordered the restasis and tell her/him about the new floaters.

[gpale]

yes i told her everything and she also said cyclosporine is not related to floaters. I just want to know will these floaters go away soon  ?

[JohnHaganMD]

Floaters are ultra common. By age 50 over half the people have them by 70 its 3 out of 4.  No way to generalize about floaters. Some times they drop to the bottom of the eye and you don't see them, some times the brain get used to them and they fade out of consciousness unless you look for them. There is no good treatment.  Lasers have not proved helpful. Similason eye drops for floaters is worthless and "floater only' vitrectomy is very expensive and often causes cataracts.

[JohnHaganMD]

I'm on restasis, my wife is on restasis, I use restasis in my practice.  the medicine does not cause floaters.   Floaters can occur at any time.  If they start and you are doing something else like mowing the yard, reading a book or starting restasis the relationship is COINCIDENTAL.  On the other hand if you are hit in the eye with a fist and note floaters the relationship is CAUSATIVE.  

[gpale]

did your floaters go away when you stopped restasis? if they go away how long did they last ?

[JohnHaganMD]

See  my response above.

[JohnHaganMD]

No restasis does not cause floaters. I have been on restasis for about 3 years and my wife 7 and I have hundreds of patients on restasis. Now floaters are common and can occur anytime. Thus people decide that their floaters are due to whatever they have been doing. Example attributing them to flying, reading, watching tv or having their pupils dilated.  Remember it take 4-6 months for restasis to become fully effective.