Ocular comfort and drying effects of three topical antihistamine/mast cell stabilizers in adults with allergic conjunctivitis: a randomized, double-masked crossover study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare short-term (5-minute) ocular comfort and drying effects of 3 topical antihistamine/mast cell stabilizers-epinastine, azelastine, and ketotifen-in patients with allergic conjunctivitis (AC).


METHODS
Adults with a history of AC, as confirmed on skin testing conducted within the previous 2 years, were enrolled in this single-center, randomized, double-masked crossover study. At visit 1, patients were randomized to receive a single drop of epinastine in 1 eye and either azelastine or ketotifen in the other eye. Ocular comfort was assessed by patients on an 11-point scale (0 = very comfortable to 10 = very uncomfortable) immediately (0 minute) and at 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 minutes after instillation. Patients were also asked to describe how their eyes felt at 3 minutes using a standardized list of positive (soothing, smooth, refreshing, cool, and comfortable), neutral (thick, sticky, and filmy), and negative (stinging, irritating, and burning) descriptor words. At visits 2 to 4, patients were examined for ocular drying and tear-film stability using fluorescein staining and ocular protection index (OPI) evaluation, respectively.


RESULTS
A total of 40 patients (27 women, 13 men; mean age, 40 years [range, 18-73 years]) were included in the study. The mean comfort score was significantly lower (indicating more comfort) with epinastine compared with azelastine at 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 minutes (between-treatment differences, 2.90, 1.85, 1.35, and 0.63, respectively; P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.001, and P = 0.019) and compared with ketotifen immediately after instillation (between-treatment difference, 1.2; P = 0.014). The mean ocular comfort score was significantly lower with ketotifen compared with azelastine at 0.5, 1, and 2 minutes (between-treatment differences, 2.35, 1.35, and 1.10, respectively; P = 0.001, P = 0.023, and P = 0.028). A majority (85%) of patients chose positive comfort descriptors to describe epinastine versus 34% with azelastine. No significant differences in fluorescein staining or OPI were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
In this small study in patients with AC, following administration of a single drop, epinastine was rated as more comfortable than azelastine and ketotifen. None of the tested medications were associated with significant acute ocular drying effects.
Torkildsen
Gail L
GL
Andover Eye Associates, Andover, Massachusetts 01845, USA.
Ousler
George W
GW
Gomes
Paul
P
D000328:Adult; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003984:Dibenzazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007665:Ketotifen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010793:Phthalazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014985:Xerophthalmia / Q000139:chemically induced*
D003984:Dibenzazepines; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D007093:Imidazoles; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010793:Phthalazines; C053090:epinastine; D007665:Ketotifen; C020976:azelastine