Topical bromfenac sodium for long-term management of vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of long-term management of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) with bromfenac sodium eye drops in combination with corticosteroids and anti-allergic eye drops.

METHODS

Twenty-two patients with VKC were randomly assigned to receive two test eye drops, either bromfenac sodium 0.1% (group A) or placebo eye drops (normal saline; group B) for a mean observation period of 20.9 months. Topical corticosteroids and mast cell stabilizers were continued during the observation period.

RESULTS

The mean 2-year recurrence rate was 90.9% in group A and 11.3% in group B, with a significant difference. No serious side effect was observed in group A.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that bromfenac sodium eye drops can be used as baseline local treatment in patients with VKC.