“A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF ALCAFTADINE 0.25% VERSUS OLOPATADINE HYDROCHLORIDE 0.2% IN ALLERGIC CONJUNCTIVITIS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL”

Abstract

Background: Ocular itching is the hallmark symptom of allergic conjunctivitis, accompanied by tearing, conjunctival redness, eyelid swelling and chemosis. Alcaftadine and Olopatadine hydrochloride are classied as dual-acting antiallergic agents, used in treatment of Allergic conjunctivitis. Objective: To compare efcacy and safety of Alcaftadine 0.25% and Olopatadine hydrochloride 0.2% eye drops among patients with allergic conjunctivitis. Ophthalmology out-patient department at Minto Ophthalmic Hospit Settings and Design: al, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bengaluru; prospective, randomized, comparative study. This study Methods and Material: was conducted among 120 patients suffering from grade 3 Allergic Conjunctivitis and efcacy measured in terms of proportion of patients achieving symptomatic relief of allergic ocular signs and symptoms from grade 3 to grade 0 from baseline to 2 weeks, using TOSS score (Total Ocular Symptoms Score) and Conjunctival Hyperaemia scale. Safety assessed by monitoring treatment-emergent adverse effects. Continuous data assessed by unpaired, paired 't' test and repeated measures-ANOVA and categorical data by chi-square test. p-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically signicant, whereas < 0.001 as highly signicant. Greater proportion of patients achieved symptomatic reli Results: ef in Alcaftadine group (98.3%) compared to Olopatadine hydrochloride group (90%) at end of 2 weeks. A signicant and faster reduction in TOSS score was observed from baseline to 2 weeks in Alcaftadine treated group compared to Olopatadine hydrochloride group (p<0.05). Adverse events reported were headache, burning sensation and mild redness in both groups Alcaftadine 0.25% demonstrated greater efcacy in reduci . Conclusion: ng ocular signs and symptoms of Allergic conjunctivitis from baseline to 2 weeks, compared to Olopatadine hydrochloride 0.2% with minimal side-effects.