Treatment of allergic conjunctivitis: results of a 1-month, single-masked randomized study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of topical antiallergic eyedrops in relieving the signs and symptoms of patients with allergic conjunctival pathology.


METHODS
In this multicenter, single-masked, randomized study, 240 patients with signs and symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis were randomized to receive 1 of the following 8 treatments twice daily: cromolyn sodium/chlorpheniramine maleate, diclofenac, epinastine, fluorometholone, ketotifen, levocabastine, naphazoline/antazoline, and olopatadine. Clinical signs and symptoms were evaluated by a masked operator using a 10-point scale at the moment of enrollment (day 0) and at weeks 1, 2, and 4. The percentage of patients achieving at least a small (at least 50% reduction of the total scale score) or a good (at least 75%) improvement of signs and symptoms was calculated at each visit. Tolerability was also evaluated as the duration of discomfort after instillation.


RESULTS
All drugs gave some improvement in symptoms in more than 85% of cases. Epinastine and olopatadine obtained at least a good relief of symptoms in 37% and 33% of cases at week 1. At the end of the study, good improvement of symptoms was obtained in at least 70% of patients by epinastine, ketotifen, fluorometholone, and olopatadine, whereas a 75% improvement for signs was obtained only by fluorometholone and ketotifen. Naphazoline/antazoline induced higher discomfort compared to the other study treatments (p<0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The efficacy of epinastine, ketotifen, and olopatadine in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis was comparable to fluorometholone. Naphazoline/antazoline had lower tolerability than the other study treatments.
Figus
Michele
M
Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. figus@ocupisa.it
Fogagnolo
Paolo
P
Lazzeri
Stefano
S
Capizzi
Federica
F
Romagnoli
Mariachiara
M
Canovetti
Annalisa
A
Iester
Michele
M
Ferreras
Antonio
A
Rossetti
Luca
L
Nardi
Marco
M
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000865:Antazoline / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002744:Chlorpheniramine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003984:Dibenzazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003990:Dibenzoxepins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005469:Fluorometholone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007665:Ketotifen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009278:Naphazoline / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000069605:Olopatadine Hydrochloride; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D003984:Dibenzazepines; D003990:Dibenzoxepins; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D007093:Imidazoles; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010880:Piperidines; D004008:Diclofenac; D000069605:Olopatadine Hydrochloride; D002744:Chlorpheniramine; D000865:Antazoline; D009278:Naphazoline; C047340:levocabastine; C053090:epinastine; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium; D005469:Fluorometholone; D007665:Ketotifen