A double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted to eval
uate the effectiveness of lodoxamide tromethamine 0.1 % eyedrops in prevent
ing inflammatory cell accumulation in the tear fluid of patients with verna
l conjunctivitis. A 1-week baseline period was followed by 4 weeks of treat
ment with either lodoxamide tromethamine 0.1% ophthalmic solution or placeb
o in 30 symptomatic subjects with vernal conjunctivitis. Cytological evalua
tion of tear fluid was performed before and after the treatment. In the lod
oxamide-treated group, but not in the placebo-treated group, the number of
neutrophils (P = 0.051) and eosinophils (P = 0.020) in the tears significan
tly decreased at the end of 4 weeks when compared with baseline (Wilcoxon-s
igned rank test). It was concluded that lodoxamide treatment was significan
tly more effective than the placebo in terms of reducing inflammatory cells
in the tear fluid in vernal conjunctivitis. This objective inhibition of i
nflammatory cells may be associated with clinical relief.