Clinical review: topical ophthalmic use of cyclosporin A

Cyclosporine A (CsA) is an immunomodulatory agent that primarily inhibits the proliferation and action of T cells. Systemic CsA has been used successfully in solid organ transplantation and noninfectious uveitis. Topical CsA with various formulations has been used in the field of ocular surface diseases since early 1980s. An ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% (Restasis, Allergan, Irvine, CA), was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2003 to treat dry eye syndrome. This article aims to evaluate the peer-reviewed published scientific literature and to define well-established uses of CsA eyedrops in the field of ocular surface diseases.