Comparison of topical lomefloxacin 0.3 per cent versus topical ciprofloxacin 0.3 per cent for the treatment of presumed bacterial corneal ulcers.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy and safety of topical lomefloxacin 0.3 per cent with topical ciprofloxacin 0.3 per cent for treating mildly severe suspected bacterial corneal ulcers.


METHODS
This prospective, randomized, double-masked controlled clinical trial was conducted on 41 patients (41 eyes) with suspected bacterial corneal ulcers who were randomized into 2 groups: 23 patients were in the lomefloxacin group and 18 patients in the ciprofloxacin group. All of these corneal ulcers were scraped for gram's stain, KOH preparation and microbiologic cultures before starting treatment. The clinical success rate, the time to cure, the rates of treatment failures, ocular signs and symptoms and the adverse effects of the study medication were evaluated.


RESULTS
Topical lomefloxacin is equivalent clinically and statistically to topical ciprofloxacin. No statistically significant treatment differences were found between lomefloxacin (100%) and ciprofloxacin (100%) in terms of success rate. Similarly, no differences were noted in the time to cure (p > 0.05), the treatment failure, or the resolution of the clinical signs and symptoms (p > 0.05). The adverse effects of lomefloxacin were superficial punctate keratitis (26.1%) and irritation (8.7%), whereas those of ciprofloxacin were superficial punctate keratitis (22.2%), white precipitate (11.1%) and irritation (11.1%). However, no statistically significant differences of these adverse effects were found between the two groups (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Lomefloxacin ophthalmic solution (0.3%) is equivalent clinically and statistically to ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution (0.3%) for the treatment of mildly severe presumed bacterial corneal ulcers without statistically significant differences in the adverse effects and discomfort.
Booranapong
Wipawee
W
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.
Kosrirukvongs
Panida
P
Prabhasawat
Pinnita
P
Srivannaboon
Sabong
S
Suttiprakarn
Paweena
P
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015363:Quinolones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D015363:Quinolones; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; C053091:lomefloxacin