Topical cyclosporine 0.5 per cent and preservative-free ketorolac tromethamine 0.5 per cent in vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

ABSTRACT

A prospective, randomized cross-over study was conducted in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis, successfully treated with cyclosporine, to evaluate the efficacy of cyclosporine 0.5 per cent compared with preservative-free ketorolac tromethamine 0.5 per cent. Patients received topical cyclosporine in both eyes along with an assessment of the severity of their conjunctivitis. In cyclosporine-treated patients, medication was discontinued 1 week before evaluation, then the medication was started for I month, and washed out 1 week before the other drug was started. Symptoms of itching, foreign body sensation, tearing, photophobia, discharge, burning, conjunctival injection, chemosis, giant papilla, keratopathy and intraocular pressure were evaluated weekly. There was a statistically significant decrease in all symptoms of cyclosporine-treated eyes at day 7, 14 and 30 and all signs at day 21 and 30. In ketorolac-treated eyes, there was a significant difference in itching, foreign body sensation, photophobia, tearing, mucous discharge, all symptoms, chemosis, giant papillae and conjunctival injection at day 7, and overall symptoms at day 14. Compared to cyclosporine-treated eyes at day 7, kotorolac-treated eyes had significantly fewer symptoms. Topical cyclosporine 0.5 per cent reduces symptoms and signs slower than preservative-free ketorolac tromethamine 0.5 per cent.