A forced choice comfort study of olopatadine hydrochloride 0.1% versus ketotifen fumarate 0.05%.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the ocular comfort of two ophthalmic anti-allergic agents: olopatadine hydrochloride 0.1% and ketotifen fumarate 0.05%.


METHODS
In a double-masked, multi-centered, randomized trial, 80 subjects were asked to make a 'forced choice' based on ocular comfort between one drop of olopatadine hydrochloride 0.1% instilled in one eye and one drop of ketotifen fumarate 0.05% instilled in the contralateral eye. At one site, the incidence of adverse reactions was also reported.


RESULTS
All subjects (100%) selected olopatadine as the more comfortable formulation. One site (n = 35) reported a 49% incidence of moderate burning and a 49% incidence of mild burning after ketotifen instillation. One subject (2% of population) at this site experienced no ocular discomfort with ketotifen. There were no reports of discomfort associated with olopatadine instillation.


CONCLUSIONS
Olopatadine is a more comfortable ophthalmic preparation than ketotifen.
Artal
M N
MN
Fundación VER Casilla de Correo, Córdoba, Argentina.
Luna
J D
JD
Discepola
M
M
D002755:Choice Behavior; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000187:drug effects*; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003990:Dibenzoxepins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007665:Ketotifen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069605:Olopatadine Hydrochloride; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D017060:Patient Satisfaction
D003990:Dibenzoxepins; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D000069605:Olopatadine Hydrochloride; D007665:Ketotifen