Do you suffer from chronic dry eye symptoms? Wondering whether Xiidra or Restasis can help?
If you suffer from dry eye disease, your eyes may have trouble creating moisture and producing enough tears for lubrication. This can lead to a lot of irritation and discomfort and can cause problems in your daily life.
Fortunately, Xiidra and Restasis are two options that can get to the root of the problem. In this guide, we’ll help settle the Xiidra vs Restasis debate.
Differences Between Restasis and Xiidra
Xiidra and Restasis are two popular options that can help with dry eyes, but they have some important differences that you should be aware of. Here are a few of the main differences between these two types of medicated eye drops.
Xiidra
Xiidra has an impact on dry eyes by working to reduce inflammation on the eye’s surface. With the active drug lifitegrast, eye tissue swelling is reduced. As a result, your eyes will begin to produce tears more easily and you’ll experience less irritation.
Xiidra works quickly and can start resolving dry eye issues within just 2 weeks. Xiidra should be used twice a day and can be taken again after about 12 hours have passed.
Some common side effects of Xiidra include eye redness and irritation. Headaches and blurred vision are also common.
Restasis
Restasis is an eye medication that will work to fight ocular inflammation and will suppress the immune system, increasing natural tear production. Restasis is known as a liquid emulsion and features a chemical known as cyclosporine.
It will typically be necessary to use Restasis long-term and it may take 3-6 months or more to see results. Restasis should be used twice per day.
The most common Restasis side effects include eye redness, irritation, and burning sensations. You may also experience blurred vision.
Over-the-Counter Eye Lubricants
When considering whether to use Restasis or Xiidra, you may also wonder whether it’s worth using over-the-counter eye lubricants known as artificial tears. While these eye drops may mask some symptoms temporarily, they don’t work to improve the underlying problems causing chronic dry eye issues.
To get to the root of your eye problems and to get long-term relief, Restasis or Xiidra will be the better choice.
Which is more effective?
Both Restasis and Xiidra can do a great job of relieving the underlying causes of dry eyes rather than just working as a temporary solution as OTC eye medications will. You should speak with your doctor to get further guidance on which one will be right for you.
It’s worth noting, however, that if you want to resolve your issues more quickly Xiidra may be a slightly better option. Restasis may take 3 months or more to start working to resolve underlying dry eye issues while Xiidra may only take a couple of weeks.
It’s also worth mentioning that Restasis is often covered by insurance while Xiidra is not, however this can vary depending on your insurance plan.
If you want to get restasis eye drops for a good price, be sure to consider your options. You may want to consider getting a Restasis generic version or checking the Restasis cost at an online pharmacy.
Understanding the Differences Between Xiidra Vs Restasis
When trying to choose between Xiidra vs Restasis, make sure that you consider all of the information above. Both can be good options for dealing with dry eye issues, but they aren’t exactly the same.
Searching for more tips and guides for dealing with chronic issues? Browse our blog now to discover more helpful articles and guides.