Retrospective analysis of clinical efficacy and safety of fluorometholone combined with azelastine eye drops for seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

BACKGROUND

Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) is a common ocular allergic disease, predominantly affecting children and young adults, with no significant gender predominance.

AIM: This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of fluorometholone combined with azelastine eye drops versus azelastine monotherapy in patients with SAC.

METHODS

This single-center retrospective study enrolled 180 SAC patients from January 2022 to June 2024. Patients were divided into a combination group (fluorometholone 0.1% QID + azelastine 0.05% BID, n = 90) and a monotherapy group (azelastine 0.05% BID, n = 90). Symptom and sign scores were assessed at baseline, weeks 1, 2, 4, and 2 months post-treatment. Efficacy, recurrence rate, and adverse events were compared.

RESULTS

The combination group showed significantly greater reduction in symptom and sign scores from week 1 onward (p < 0.01). At week 2, the total effective rate was 98.89% in the combination group versus 81.11% in the monotherapy group (p < 0.05). The recurrence rate at 2 months post-treatment was significantly lower in the combination group (6.7% vs. 17.8%, χ2 = 4.889, p = 0.027). Adverse events were mild and comparable between groups (5.6% vs. 4.4%, p = 0.697).

CONCLUSION

Fluorometholone combined with azelastine is more effective than azelastine monotherapy in treating SAC, providing faster symptom relief, higher efficacy, lower recurrence, and a comparable safety profile.