RESTASIS

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What Is RESTASIS® And How Does It Work?

Only RESTASIS® Helps Patients with a Certain Type of Chronic Dry Eye Produce More of Their Own Tears

RESTASIS® (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.05% is the only prescription therapy for patients with keratoconjunctivitis sicca (Chronic Dry Eye) whose tear production is presumed to be suppressed due to ocular inflammation. Increased tear production was not seen in patients currently taking topical anti-inflammatory drugs or using punctal plugs.

How RESTASIS® Ophthalmic Emulsion Works:

It has been shown that patients with Chronic Dry Eye experience increased activation of T-cells. These T-cells produce cytokines that may result in

  • Neural signal to the lacrimal gland that disrupts tear production, leading to a decrease in the patient’s natural ability to produce their own tears
  • Tissue damage in lacrimal glands and ocular surface
  • Recruitment of additional T-cells
  • Increased cytokine production

RESTASIS® Ophthalmic Emulsion contains a very small concentration of cyclosporine. Cyclosporine is believed to inhibit the activation of T-cells. T-cells cause inflammation and disrupt the normal production of tears in the lacrimal glands. Improving the lacrimal glands function is believed to result in increased tear production.

While artificial tears can provide temporary relief by putting lubricants on the surface of the eye, only RESTASIS® is FDA-approved to increase tear production in patients whose tear production is presumed to be suppressed due to ocular inflammation associated with keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Increased tear production was not seen in patients currently taking topical anti-inflammatory drugs or punctal plugs.1

Reference

  1. RESTASIS® (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.05% [prescribing information] Irvine, Calif.: Allergan, Inc.; Rev 2/04.
Allergan, Inc.

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RESTASIS® Ophthalmic Emulsion is indicated to increase tear production in patients whose tear production is presumed to be suppressed due to ocular inflammation associated with keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Increased tear production was not seen in patients currently taking topical anti-inflammatory drugs or using punctal plugs.

Important Safety Information:

RESTASIS® is contraindicated in patients with active ocular infections and has not been studied in patients with a history of herpes keratitis.

The most common adverse event was ocular burning (upon instillation) – 17%. Other events reported in 1% to 5% of patients included conjunctival hyperemia, discharge, epiphora, eye pain, foreign body sensation, pruritus, stinging, and visual disturbance (most often blurring).

Please see full prescribing information for RESTASIS® (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.05%.