Comparative evaluation of olopatadine 0.01% combined fluorometholone 0.1% treatment versus olopatadine 0.01% combined ketorolac 0.4% treatment in patients with acute seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of low-effective steroid fluorometholone 0.1% and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ketorolac 0.4% when concomitantly used with olopatadine 0.01% in relieving clinical signs and symptoms of acute seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC).

METHODS

In this randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-center study, 104 eyes of 52 patients with the diagnosis of SAC were conducted. The patients were assigned into two groups to receive either olopatadine and fluorometholone one eye and placebo in the contralateral eye or olopatadine and ketorolac one eye and placebo in the contralateral. The clinical signs (chemosis, mucus secretion, eyelid edema) and symptoms (itching, redness, tearing, burning) of the patients were evaluated by summing up the scores using a 3-point scale. Results were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test, p values less than 0.05 were defined as significant.

RESULTS

All parameters were improved less amount on the first day of the treatment in both groups, however, significant reduction in clinical signs and symptoms were seen on the 10th day compared with those receiving placebo. Fluorometholone was found superior to ketorolac in reducing redness, mucus secretion, chemosis and eyelid edema (p = 0.032 for redness, p = 0.028 for mucus secretion, p = 0.030 for chemosis, p = 0.042 for eyelid edema) and both drugs were similar in alleviating the symptoms itching, burning and tearing (p = 0.074 for itching, p = 0.064 for burning, p = 0.072 for tearing).

CONCLUSIONS

Fluorometholone was better than ketorolac in relieving redness, chemosis, mucus secretion and eyelid edema when concomitantly used with olopatadine, however, these two drugs were found equal in attenuating the symptoms itching, burning and tearing.