Md. Abu Nayeem Chowdhury1, Md. Anup Rahman Chowdhury2, A.K.M. Mosharrof Hossain3, Avijit Das4
1. Assistant Professor, Dept. of Pharmacology, SWMC, Sylhet
2. Assistant Professor, Dept. of Pharmacology, NEMC, Sylhet
3. Professor & Head, Dept. of Pharmacology, SOMC, Sylhet
4. Assistant Professor, Dept. of Microbiology, NEMC, Sylhet
Abstract
This study was conducted to compare safety of two ophthalmic solutions (0.1% olopatadine hydrochloride and 0.025% ketotifen fumarate) on the clinical symptoms and signs of allergic conjunctivitis (AC). The patients who attended Ophthalmology outpatient department of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital (SOMCH) with the diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis were taken as the study subjects, as per inclusion and exclusion criteria designed for the study. Finally 83 patients with the symptoms and signs of AC (i.e. hyperemia, itching, tearing, and photophobia) completed this prospective interventional study. The study participants were divided into two groups. Every patient with even registration number was given olopatadine hydrochloride 0.1% ophthalmic solution one drop 12 hourly in each eye while every patient with odd registration number received ketotifen fumarate 0.025% ophthalmic solution one drop 12 hourly in each eye. Patients were evaluated 30 min and 2 weeks after initiation of treatment for assessment of side effect using appropriate score according to Alejandro J. Aguilar (2000). Both olopatadine and ketotifen fumarate ophthalmic solutions were found to be effective in alleviating the clinical signs and symptoms of AC. However, olopatadine reduced ocular symptoms and signs without any unwanted effect.