For your patients with dry eye, here's some good news. Clinical trials indicate that the immunomodulatory drug cyclo-sporin A (CsA) significantly reduces dry eye symptoms.

The study consisted of 877 patients with defined moderate to severe dry eye. The patients were split into three treatment groups and treated twice daily. Group one received CsA 0.05%, group two received CsA 0.1% and the third group was administered a placebo. The significant improvement that took place in groups one and two was accompanied by few side effects.

"What is unique about CsA," said study author Kenneth Sall, M.D., "is that it may actually treat what we believe to be a cause of the disease, not just the symptoms. It also appears that CsA was well tolerated by both Sj�-gren's and non-Sj�gren's patients, and is effective in treating dry eye disease. This is a significant breakthrough in the management of this common and frustrating condition."

CsA is still under FDA review.