Publication:

Comparative analysis of epinastine vs olopatadine eye drops in moderate allergic conjunctivitis patients

Background Allergic conjunctivitis is a perennial ocular allergic disease. It is the inflammatory response of the conjunctiva to allergens such as pollen, animal dander, and other environmental allergens. The treatment consists of avoidance of the offending antigen, topical decongestants, antihistamines, mast cell stabilizers, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids.Olopatadine hydrochloride 0.1% ophthalmic solution (Patanol) and Epinastine hydrochloride 0.05% ophthalmic solution (Elestat) are two topical ant allergic agents.

Methods After taking institutional ethics committee approval, total n= 62 (33, 29) patients were enrolled. Patients were randomized and divided into two study groups (1-olopatadine, 2-epinastine). After prescribing the drug therapy (day 1), patients were asked to visit at 3,7,15 day and at 1month. At every visit, slit lamp examination was done. Changes in all sign/symptoms were recorded. For the statistical testing of the data Chi-square test is used to find the association of variable. Mann Whitney -u test is applied for the statistically analysing the two group.

Results Both the study drugs found to be equally efficacious except at few points. Only statistically marked difference was observed in papillary hyperaemia (p<0.001) at 1 month where olopatadine found to be highly effective.

Conclusions Both drugs are found to be equally effective in moderate allergic conjunctivitis. Olopatadine is found effective in palpebral hyperaemia so it can be recommended in only moderate to severe conjunctivitis.