ABSTRACT
To evaluate the effect of olopatadine 0.1% ophthalmic solution twice daily on ocular and nasal symptoms in patients with seasonal allergic rhino-conjunctivitis. This study was conducted at the Ophthalmology and ear, nose and throat [ENT] clinics on patients with seasonal allergic rhino-conjunctivitis during spring and early summer seasons [March to end of June] in 2010 at Princess Haya Al Hussein hospital in the south of Jordan and in 2011 at Prince Rashid Bin Al Hassan hospital in the north of Jordan. The patients were divided randomly into 2 groups; group A [50 patients] received Olopatadine 0.1% ophthalmic solution [Patanol] twice daily, group B [51 patients] received placebo in the form of balanced salt solution. All patients attended ENT and Ophthalmology clinics weekly for 2 visits; they were reviewed regarding the improvement of ocular symptoms [itching, redness and lacrimation] and nasal symptoms [sneezing, itchy nose and runny nose]. In those patients who received Olopatadine 0.1% ophthalmic solution, after two weeks 98%, 98% and 90% of them showed satisfactory improvement according to a scale of 1 to 5 marked by the patients for itching, lacrimation and redness respectively compared to 14%, 12% and 6% in group B respectively [P-value <0.05]. Regarding nasal symptoms 90%, 84% and 78% of patients in group A showed satisfactory improvement regarding sneezing, running nose and nasal itching respectively compared to 8%, 16% and 10% in group B [P-value <0.05]. The treatment of ocular allergy positively impacts nasal symptoms. The use of ocular solution of Olopatadine 0.1% ophthalmic solution twice daily has an excellent effect on ocular symptoms and good effect on nasal symptoms, this effect was more significant at two weeks of treatment. Olopatadine 0.1% ophthalmic solution is a well-tolerated drug and may be considered as a primary treatment for patients with seasonal allergic rhino-conjunctivitis