Long-term safety of loteprednol etabonate 0.2% in the treatment of seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the long-term safety of the topical steroid, loteprednol etabonate 0.2%, in the treatment of seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis.


METHODS
A retrospective review of 397 patients from three private ophthalmologic practices treating seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis with long-term loteprednol etabonate 0.2% was performed. Chart review of slitlamp findings and intraocular pressure measurements during follow-up visits was performed to determine the incidence of adverse effects, such as steroid-induced intraocular pressure increase, cataract formation, and any other possible topical steroid-induced adverse event. One hundred fifty-nine of the 397 patients had been continuously using loteprednol for more than 12 months.


RESULTS
There were no reported adverse effects of long-term loteprednol etabonate 0.2% use in any of the 159 patients, whose continuous use ranged from a cumulative total of 120 drops per eye to 3,741 drops per eye.


CONCLUSIONS
Loteprednol etabonate 0.2% is a safe topical steroid when used on a long-term basis for the treatment of seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis.
Ilyas
Haroon
H
Department of Ophthalmology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33613, USA.
Slonim
Charles B
CB
Braswell
Guy R
GR
Favetta
John R
JR
Schulman
Melvin
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D000069559:Loteprednol Etabonate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
D000730:Androstadienes; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D000069559:Loteprednol Etabonate