by Jacquelyn Mitchard, best-selling author of “The Deep End of the Ocean” (NAPSA)—Like most people, I love a good cry when I read a ter- |" part of the book club, we asked 325 people across the country experiencing dry eye symptoms to vote on a Top 10 Tear-Jerker Book List to raise awareness of dry eye and the importanceoftears. rific book. Unfortunately for the approximately 20 million Americans who suffer from dry eye, everyday pleasures such as read- ing may becomedifficult. I can relate, as I started to experience blurred vision, irritation and itchy, dry eyes 10 years ago when writing at the computer and reading bedtime stories to my children. Although not life threatening, as an author, mother of seven and avid reader, these activities are vital not only to my professional life but to my personallife as well. I'm not alone, as a national survey mimics what I found—diffi- culty with activities such as reading and using a computer can occur when you experience dry eye symp- toms. Despite this, 75 percent of women reported that they had not visited an eye doctor to seek relief because they felt they just had to live with their symptoms. These women sounded just like me. WhenI finally talked to my eye doctor about my dry eye symp- toms, he let me know that,if left untreated, dry eye can progress and may lead to more serious vision problems. I was diagnosed with chronic dry eye dueto inflam- mation and prescribed RESTASIS I invite you to visit DryEye BookClub.com to join the Dry Eye Book Club, learn about dry eye (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.05 percent, which my eye doctor said is approved to increase tear production that may be suppressed by inflammation due to chronic dry eye. It took me too long to talk to an eye doctor, to be diagnosed with a certain type of chronic dry eye and to find an effective treatment. I want women to know that chronic dry eye is a med- ical condition that should be taken seriously and discussed with an eye doctor. To support this effort, I've teamed up with the Red Hot Mamas*, the nation’s largest menopause-man- agement education organization, and Allergan, Inc., a global health care leader in eye care, to launch the Dry Eye Book Club. As and different treatment options and follow along as I share my thoughts on a few of the books that made the Top 10 Tear-Jerker Book List. The Web site also includes a full list of the tear-jerk- ers voted on, a quiz to gauge your dry eye symptoms, questions to help start a conversation with your eye doctor and information about dry eye symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment options and long-term effects. Log on to DryEyeBook Club.com and join me in a good cry! Top 10 Tear-Jerker BookList 1. The Diary ofAnne Frank, Anne Frank (Annelies Marie Frank) 2.LoveStory, Erich Segal 3.To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee 4. Little Women, Louisa MayAlcott 5. Gone With the Wind, Margaret Mitchell 6. Angela's Ashes, Frank McCourt 7. The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck 8. Romeo andJuliet, William Shakespeare 9. The Color Purple, Alice Walker 10. The Deep Endofthe Ocean, Jacquelyn Mitchard @ About RESTASIS (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.05 percent RESTASIS, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2002, is currently the only prescription eye drop available believed to treat an underlying cause of chronic dry eye. RESTASIS helps increase tear production in cases where it may be reduced by inflammation due to chronic dry eye. RESTASIS ophthalmic emulsion did not increase tear production in patients using topical steroids or tear duct plugs. Important Safety Information RESTASIS ophthalmic emulsion should not be used by patients with active eye infections and has not been studied in patients with a history of herpes viral infections of the eye. The most commonsideeffect is a temporary burning sensation. Otherside effects include eye redness, discharge, watery eyes, eye pain, foreign body sensation, itching, stinging andblurred vision. For more information about RESTASIS ophthalmic emulsion, please refer to the full prescribing information or the product Website at www.restasis.com. RESTASIS marks owned by Allergan,Inc.
