First Generic to Treat Dry Eye

The US FDA has approved the first generic formulation of cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion (Restasis) to increase tear production for patients with a condition commonly known as dry eye. Cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion was approved in 2003 to treat patients whose tear production is thought to be suppressed because of ocular inflammation associated with keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye), which occurs when the eyes don't produce enough tears to stay wet or tears aren't the correct consistency. Cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion is an immunomodulator that helps increase tear production. The most common adverse effect reported in clinical trials of the brand name product was ocular burning.