title: Is homatropine 5% effective in reducing pain associated with corneal abrasion when compared with placebo? A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the change in visual analogue scale (VAS) pain ratings over 24 h following mechanical corneal abrasion between patients receiving sixth hourly drops of either 5% homatropine or placebo.
  
  
  METHODS
  A triple blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on a convenience sample of eligible consenting adults who were randomized to receive either sixth hourly 5% homatropine (active) or 0.5% hypromellose (placebo) eye drops. VAS pain ratings were performed at 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h whereas the study drug was instilled at 0, 6, 12 and 18 h. The primary outcome was attainment of a clinically significant reduction in pain on the VAS (>20 mm decrease) from enrolment to each time point.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in baseline variables or VAS pain ratings at any time point between those in the homatropine (n= 20) and placebo (n= 20) groups. The percentages of patients reporting a >20 mm VAS decrease at 12 h were 50% (95% CI -27.2-72.8) and 60% (95% CI -36.1-80.9) for the homatropine and placebo groups, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found no significant difference in pain score reductions between the two groups but some level of therapeutic benefit is not excluded.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Dandenong Hospital, David Street, Dandenong, Vic. 3101, Australia. robertmeek66@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meek
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Favilla
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Larmour
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guastalegname
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D058447:Eye Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014326:Tropanes / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D010919:Placebos; D014326:Tropanes; C100236:homatropine