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| |  Cyclosporin A Shows Promise In Treating Dry Eye Syndrome SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- April 11, 2000 -- Relief may be in sight for a difficult and annoying eye condition affecting more than one million people in the United States. Results from two identical clinical trials published in the April issue of Ophthalmology -- the clinical journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology -- indicate the immunomodulatory drug cyclosporin A (CsA) significantly reduced symptoms experienced by those suffering from dry eye syndrome. Dry eye syndrome is a group of disorders affecting the film of tears over the surface of the eye. The tear film is important because it keeps the eye's surface smooth and clear. Without it, good vision is impossible. People suffering from dry eye have either reduced tear production or excessive tear evaporation that causes discomfort and may damage the surface of the eye. The symptoms can include stinging or burning eyes, the feeling of scratchiness, irritation from smoke or wind, excess tearing and difficulty wearing contact lenses. Dry eye occurs more often in the elderly, especially women. It is also associated with the systemic autoimmune disease Sjogren's syndrome. According to the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation, an estimated two to four million people in the United States have this disease. The exact cause is not yet known, but there is growing evidence suggesting that dry eye is the result of an inflammatory process affecting both the lacrimal gland -- the gland that produces tears -- and the surface of the eye. There is no cure for dry eye and, so far, only the symptoms can be treated. Current treatments include using lubricating eye drops or inserting a punctal plug into the tear duct to conserve tears. According to the study, many of the current treatments provide insufficient relief for many patients, especially those with chronic moderate to severe dry eye. A total of 877 patients from across the United States participated in the multicenter, randomized, double-masked parallel-group clinical trial. The clinical trial participants were divided into three treatment groups. The first group received eye drops containing CsA .05 percent solution. The second group received eye drops with CsA .1 percent solution and the third group was given a placebo. Both groups that received the eye drops containing CsA experienced a significant improvement in their dry eye symptoms with few side effects. "What is unique about CsA is that it may actually treat what we believe to be a cause of the disease, not just the symptoms," said one of the study's authors, Kenneth Sall, M.D. of Bellflower, Calif. "It also appears that CsA was well tolerated by both the Sjogren's and non-Sjogren's patients and is effective in treating dry eye disease. This is a significant breakthrough in the management of this common and frustrating condition." The drug, currently under review by the Food and Drug Administration, is not yet available to the public.
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