OPHTHALMOLOGY – FROM THE OCULAR SURFACE TO THE OPTIC NERVE. A grandfather, unknowingly under siege by a silent thief of sight. A mother, suffering from painfully dry eyes that make it impossible to watch an outdoor soccer game. A child, miserable with an eye infection. Since our inception over 50 years ago, allergan has relentlessly pursued and developed new therapeutic agents to treat eye diseases that affect millions of people around the world. Across the pharmaceutical eye care spectrum, we have multiple growth platforms that present hope for people suffering from ocular diseases. Our full line of eye care pharmaceutical products addresses a wide range of ocular conditions, including dry eye, infection, inflammation, allergies and glaucoma. And we are continually looking into the future for ways to apply our research and development expertise to improve treatments for other ocular conditions. DRY EYE DISEASE – A THERAPEUTIC BREAKTHROUGH. In the healthy eye, natural tears are secreted by the eye’s lacrimal and accessory glands and perform such vital functions as providing lubrication, defending against bacteria and flushing away foreign particles. In chronic dry eye disease, one of the most prevalent problems eye care professionals address in their practices, abnormalities and deficiencies in the tear film result in pain and irritation. Initiated by a variety of causes, moderate to severe dry eye is often associated with inflammation and can result in permanent damage to the tear producing lacrimal glands. The incidence increases with age; after menopause in women; and in patients with systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and lupus. Previously, doctors could only help patients temporarily alleviate symptoms with artificial tears. With Allergan’s intro- duction of RESTASIS (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion 0.05%), people afflicted with painfully dry eyes have access to a medication that increases normal tear production by treating the underlying cause of the disease. Allergan intends to build on its RESTASIS success by introducing other innovative therapeutic dry eye solutions. For example, we are working with Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. on diquafosol, a novel agent for potential use by dry eye sufferers. 