ABSTRACT
Purpose: With increasing environmental pollution, the incidence of allergic conjunctivitis is increasing. Newer anti-allergic medications with combined anti-histaminic and mast cell stabilization action can help reducing the use of topical steroids for milder form of disease. There is no study directly comparing olopatadine (0.1%), bepotastine (1.5%), and alcaftadine (0.25%) for mild to moderate allergic conjunctivitis cases. Hence, we decided to methodically study the efficacy of three topical medications. Methods: Prospective, observer-masked clinical trial enrolled 45 patients with 15 patients in each of the three groups. Patients with mild to moderate allergic conjunctivitis were sequentially assigned to respective groups, and relief of symptoms and signs were noted upto 1-month follow-up. Results: All three topical medications faired almost equally in resolving symptoms of the patients with mild to moderate allergic conjunctivitis, and most of them reported complete relief after 1 week of use of medication. Few cases with limbal or palpebral papillae reported symptomatic relief after use of medication, but the resolution of these signs was not noted in all three groups. Conclusion: We concluded similar efficacy of three medications in relieving symptoms and inefficacy in regressing palpebral and limbal papillae in cases of allergic conjunctivitis.
ABSTRACT
A 53-year-old female presented with keratitis (right eye) after fall of insect 10 days back. The ulcer worsened in spite of aggressive treatment with topical natamycin (5%) and amphotericin-B (0.15%) eye drops and finally perforated. Iris tissue sealed the perforation site, and ulcer healed with formation of adherent leucoma. This case represents first reported case of keratitis caused by Laetisaria arvalis and stresses on aggressive course of keratitis caused by this fungus. Importance of DNA sequencing in identification of unidentified fungal species is also highlighted.