Therapeutic Efficacy of Topical Olopatadine 0.1% Versus Ketotifen Fumarate in Allergic Conjunctivitis

Objective: To compare the therapeutic efficacy of topical Olopatadine 0.1% versus Ketotifen Fumarate among the patients diagnosed with allergic conjunctivitis at Armed forces institute of ophthalmology. Study Design: Prospective comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: Armed forces Institute of Ophthalmology, Rawalpindi, from Jan 2020 to Jan 2021. Methodology: Patients diagnosed with allergic conjunctivitis by consultant ophthalmologist fulfilling the exclusion/inclusion criteria were included in the study. They were divided into two groups by block randomization with group A receiving Olopatadine 0.1%, while group B just received the Ketotifen Fumarate. Symptoms were assessed on a symptom severity score upon diagnosis before the start of medication and then after 72 hours of treatment by a different consultant ophthalmologist who was unaware of the group of patients. Results: A total of 100 patients were included in each group. The mean age of the study participants was 30.944 ± 3.349 years. 148 (74%) patients were males while 52 (26%) were females. The difference in mean score of symptoms in group A was 5.76 ± 1.39 while in group B was 3.33 ± 2.51. Application of t-test revealed that topical Olopatadine 0.1% was superior to Ketotifen Fumarate in reducing the symptoms of acute allergic conjunctivitis on the third day of treatment (p-value<0.001). Conclusion: Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis was the commonest type of allergic conjunctivitis seen in our study participants. Topical Olopatadine 0.1% emerged as a better treatment option when compared to Ketotifen Fumarate for immediate management of acute allergic conjunctivitis among patients managed at a tertiary care ophthalmology hospital. (author)