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Management of allergic conjunctivitis: an evaluation of the perceived comfort and therapeutic efficacy of olopatadine 0.2% and azelastine 0.05% from two prospective studies

Original Research

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Authors: Arthur B Epstein, Peter T Van Hoven, Alan Kaufman, Warner W Carr

Published Date April 2009 Volume 2009:3 Pages 329 - 336
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S5223

Arthur B Epstein1, Peter T Van Hoven2, Alan Kaufman3, Warner W Carr4

1North Shore Contact Lens and Vision Consultants, Roslyn Heights, NY, USA; 2Primary Eyecare Group PC, Brentwood, TN, USA; 3Adult Allergy Clinic and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA; 4Southern California Research, Mission Viejo, CA, USA

Purpose: Results from 2 patient-reported outcome studies of allergic conjunctivitis sufferers who used olopatadine 0.2% and azelastine 0.05% are analyzed.

Methods: The PACE (Pataday Allergic Conjunctivitis Evaluation) multi-center, prospective, open-label study examined patient perceptions of olopatadine 0.2% once daily (qd) and previous twice daily (bid) allergic conjunctivitis medications via questionnaire in allergic conjunctivitis sufferers who had previously used bid medication and then initiated olopatadine. A second conjunctival antigen challenge (CAC) study evaluated comfort of 4 allergic conjunctivitis medications.

Results: Forty-nine patients from the PACE study (N = 125) with prior azelastine use were examined. Significantly more patients rated themselves “very satisfied” with current olopatadine use compared with past azelastine use on drop comfort (p < 0.0001), speed of relief (p = 0.0004), and overall satisfaction (70% vs 16%, p < 0.0001). Significantly more patients reported olopatadine “very effective” against swelling compared with azelastine (47% vs 8%, p = 0.0404). In the CAC study (N = 36), data from olopatadine (n = 8), azelastine (n = 9) and placebo (N = 36) groups were reported. Olopatadine was rated significantly more comfortable than azelastine upon instillation (p = 0.0223), at 30 seconds (p = 0.0479), and at 1 minute after instillation (p = 0.0240).

Conclusion: In the reported studies, olopatadine 0.2% qd was more comfortable than azelastine 0.05% and preferred by patients with allergic conjunctivitis by a ratio of 4:1.

Keywords: allergic conjunctivitis, azelastine, ocular allergy, olopatadine, patient perceptions