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Key takeaways
Cequa is a cyclosporine eye drop used for treating dry eye disease.
Cyclosporine ophthalmic solutions are available in a variety of concentrations, some of which are available as generic versions.
Cequa is a 0.09% cyclosporine solution that is not available as a generic and carries a lofty price tag and a reputation for not always being covered by health insurance plans.
Cequa is a prescription eye drop used in the treatment of dry eye disease. The ophthalmic solution has an immune-suppressing active ingredient, cyclosporine. For those suffering from dry eye symptoms, such as redness, irritation, burning, blurred vision, and light sensitivity, Cequa can provide welcome relief if other treatment measures are ineffective. The unwelcome characteristic of the drug is its price, which can reach $850 for 60 single-use vials of 0.09% ophthalmic solution. Paying that amount monthly can be daunting. We will elaborate on Cequa’s pricing and provide options for savings.
Related: What is Cequa?
How much does Cequa cost without insurance?
The exact cost of Cequa without health insurance will vary, depending on which pharmacy is used. Only one dose and version of Cequa is available, so those variables do not need to be considered. A typical retail price for 60 single-use vials of the drug is $850, and this provides enough medicine for one month based on standard twice-daily dosing of the eye medication. A vial contains two drops, one for each eye. In other words, the drug costs about $28 per day and adds up to over $10,000 per year. The price is a powerful motivator to look for a generic substitute or other, less costly, alternatives.
How much does generic Cequa cost?
There is no exact generic version of Cequa, which is a 0.09% cyclosporine solution. However, generic cyclosporine is available as a 0.05% solution, akin to the brand-name product Restasis. Generic cyclosporine is also used for dry eye disease and retails for about $780 per 60, single-use vials. Let’s lay out the pricing of Cequa in comparison to other alternatives for dry eye disease.
<td$850 per 60 single-use vials<td$620 per 60 single-use vial of brand-name Cequa<tdSee latest prices<tdCyclosporine 0.05% ophthalmic solution<td$780 per 60 single-use vials<td$90 per 60 single-use vials of generic cyclosporine 0.05%<tdSee latest prices<tdRestasis (cyclosporine 0.05% ophthalmic solution)<td$400 per 60 single-use vials<td$90 per 60 single-use vials of generic cyclosporine 0.05%<tdSee latest prices
| Drug name | Price without insurance | SingleCare price | Savings options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cequa (cyclosporine 0.09% ophthalmic solution) | |||
| Restasis MultiDose (cyclosporine 0.05% ophthalmic solution) | $830 per 1, 5.5 mL bottle | $540 per 1, 5.5 mL bottle of brand-name Restasis MultiDose | See latest prices |
| Vevye (cyclosporine 0.1% ophthalmic solution) | $1070 per 1, 2 mL bottle | $750 per per 1, 2 mL bottle of brand-name Vevye | See latest prices |
| Xiidra (5% lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) | $1000 per 60 single-use vials | $620 per 60 single-use vials of brand-name Xiidra | See latest prices |
| Tyrvaya (0.03 mg/actuation varenicline nasal spray) | $930 per 2, 4.2 mL bottles | $670 per 2, 4.2 mL bottles of brand-name Tyrvaya | See latest prices |
| Eysuvis (0.25% loteprednol ophthalmic solution) | $670 per 1, 8.3 mL bottle | $460 per 1, 8.3 mL bottle of brand-name Eysuvis | See latest prices |
| Miebo (1.338 g/mL perfluorohexyloctance ophthalmic solution) | $1270 per 1, 3 mL bottle | $1270 per 1, 3 mL bottle of brand-name Miebo | See latest prices |
| Systane Complete (0.6% lubricating ophthalmic solution) | $22 per 1, 10 mL bottle | $15 per 1, 10 mL bottle of brand-name Systane Complete | See latest prices |
| Lubricating eye drops | $13 per 1, 15 mL bottle | $6 per 1, 15 mL bottle of generic lubricating eye drops | See latest prices |
| Systane Night (0.3% lubricating ophthalmic gel) | $17 per 1, 10 gram tube | $12 per 1, 10 gram tube of brand-name Systane Night | See latest prices |
Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs if available. Click the link under “Savings options” to see the latest drug prices.
Cequa costs by dose
When examining medication pricing, it often pays to look at strength and quantity as variables that can significantly affect the bottom line. Cequa does not follow that rule of thumb. It is only available in a single strength, and higher quantities do not necessarily translate to volume discounts. On the other hand, cyclosporine ophthalmic solution is available in different concentrations with different prices attached to them.
| Strength | SingleCare price of brand-name | SingleCare price of generic |
|---|---|---|
| 0.09% cyclosporine ophthalmic solution single-dose vials | $620 for brand-name Cequa | No generic available |
| 0.05% cyclosporine ophthalmic solution single dose vials | $400 for brand-name Restasis | $90 for generic cyclosporine 0.05% |
| 0.05% cyclosporine ophthalmic solution bottle | $540 for brand-name Restasis MultiDose | No generic available |
| 0.1% cyclosporine ophthalmic solution bottle | $750 for brand-name Vevye | No generic available |
| See our lowest price for Cequa without insurance |
Is Cequa covered by insurance?
If you have a prescription drug plan through your health insurance, Cequa may or may not be included on the plan’s formulary. In other words, coverage for this brand-name medication is not assured. Aetna’s 2025 Standard Plan, for example, does not cover Cequa. Likewise, for those with Medicare, the expense of the drug and the availability of cheaper options may put it into the non-formulary category without coverage, which is the case with Humana’s 2025 Medicare drug plan. Consult your formulary to determine coverage, and then, check to see what your copay amounts to if it is covered.
How to get Cequa covered by insurance
Getting insurance coverage for Cequa might involve additional steps beyond simply obtaining a prescription. The details of a health plan’s drug formulary could stipulate that step therapy is required, meaning that a preferred and typically cheaper option needs to be tried first. For instance, therapy with lubricating eye drops and generic cyclosporine 0.05% may need to be tried first. The prescribing healthcare provider may need to then obtain a prior authorization from the insurance company, explaining what alternatives have been tried in order to see if coverage will be granted.
How to get Cequa without insurance
Affording Cequa without insurance may seem overwhelming at first, but saving money on the retail price is really doable. Do not be dismayed if you do not qualify for the manufacturer’s patient assistance program. The copay card and the PhilRx program associated with Cequa’s manufacturer, Sun Ophthalmics, have eligibility rules that require having insurance. Check out these options that can be more widely used.
1. SingleCare discount card
SingleCare discount cards are a first-line cost cutting move for a reason. They are free to obtain and easy to use. Present your card to your pharmacist, and coupled with your Cequa prescription, you can be on your way to saving. Even for those with insurance, some drugs may be less expensive with a SingleCare discount card than their copay amount if using insurance.
2. SingleCare Cequa coupon
Over 35,000 participating pharmacies across the United States accept SingleCare coupons. A Cequa coupon can be taken to the pharmacy with the prescription. The price can drop from $850 to $620 for 60 single-use vials of Cequa. Over the course of one year, the savings may reach $2800, an eye-popping amount for something so easy to use.
3. Pharmacy savings
The first price you quoted from a pharmacy may not be the best, and other pharmacies might offer savings. Shopping around is not just a good idea for other consumer products; it makes a difference with drug prices, too. Check the SingleCare discounted price at different pharmacies. The cost could vary by more than ten percent, from $620 to $700 in the case of Cequa.
4. Alternative treatments
Talk to your doctor about other treatment options for dry eye disease. They may provide information on environmental measures that can help, such as using humidifiers, decreasing the use of contact lenses, smoking cessation, treating blepharitis (eyelid inflammation), and limiting the use of air conditioning and forced-air heating. Eye drops that simply lubricate the eye’s surface are usually tried before prescription medication. If symptoms persist, an anti-inflammatory option like cyclosporine drops may be next, but the generic cyclosporine 0.05% ophthalmic solution might be a reasonable treatment rather than the brand version. An eyecare provider must guide you through these decisions.
- Cequa drug label, NIH DailyMed (2025)
- Aetna 2025 Standard Control Drug Plan, Aetna (2025)
- Humana 2025 Medicare Drug Plan, Humana (2025)
- Paying for Cequa, Sun Ophthalmics (2025)