Restasis approved as new treatment for dry eye

Allergan Pharmaceuticals is proud to announce that Restasis is now available at your local pharmacy.

Allergan, Inc. announced it has received approval from the FDA for RESTASIS, the first and only therapy for patients with dry eye disease whose tear production is suppressed due to ocular inflammation. Warren Cross & Associates led the clinical research that aided in the approval for Restasis.

Tears are secreted by the lacrimal and accessory glands and perform vital functions in the eye such as lubrication of the eyelids and surface of the eye, defense against bacteria, and flushing away foreign particles.

It is estimated that over one million people in the United States suffer from dry eye disease, also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). It is a painful and irritating condition involving problems in the tear film initiated by a variety of causes. Moderate-to-severe dry eye can result in serious damage to the eye’s surface. This increases markedly with age and after menopause in women and in people with systemic diseases such as Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and diabetes.

In clinical trials, RESTASIS led to significant increases in Schirmer wetting versus vehicle at six months. The Schirmer test measures the amount of tears produced in the eye.

More information is available at www.Restasis.com.