Treatment of acute bacterial conjunctivitis with topical lomefloxacin 0.3%compared to topical ofloxacin 0.3%

Purpose. The main purpose of this prospective study was to compare the effi cacy, local tolerance, and safety of topical lomefloxacin 0.3% and topical ofloxacin 0.3% in the treatment of acute bacterial conjunctivitis. Patients and Methods. Forty patients with acute bacterial conjunctivitis we re included in a randomized, prospective, parallel-group study. Twenty pati ents were assigned to the lomefloxacin group (Okacin(R), CIBA Vision Ophtha lmics) and 20 patients to ofloxacin (Oflox(R), Allergan). Lomefloxacin 0.3% was given 1 drop every 2 hours during waking hours on the first day then t wice daily for one week. Ofloxacin 0.3% eyedrops were given four times dail y. All patients underwent eye examination and clinical findings were graded and recorded according to severity of lid hyperemia, lid edema, lid crusti ng, conjunctival edema and discharge, bulbar conjunctival hyperemia, palpeb ral conjunctival hyperemia, corneal edema, and ocular discomfort. The score for each clinical sign was recorded before and after treatment. The mean c umulative sum score (CSS) was obtained by adding the scores for signs and s ymptoms. All conjunctival swabs were cultured and tested for sensitivity. P atients with confirmed bacterial conjunctivitis were included. Results. There were 10 male and 10 female patients in each group. The age r ange was from I to 78 years, and the mean age was 35 years in the lomefloxa cin group. In the ofloxacin group the age range was from 1 to 70 years, and the mean age was 26 years. There was no significant difference between the two groups in relation to age or sex. The causative organisms were Staphyl ococcus epidermidis in 16 cases (36%), alpha-hemolytic Streptococci in 9 (2 0%), Haemophilus spp. 6 (13%), Staphylococcus aureus 5 (11%), Streptococcus pneumoniae 4 (9%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 3 (7%), and other 2 (4%). The me an CSS for conjunctivitis was 12.1 before therapy in the lomefloxacin group and 12.7 in the ofloxacin group. On the 7th day of therapy, the mean CSS w as 0.7 in the lomefloxacin group, and 1.6 for ofloxacin. All patients showe d improvement, but a total of 18 out of 20 (88%) in the lomefloxacin group showed complete resolution compared to 15 (75%) in the ofloxacin group. The difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.08). Tolerance was exc ellent in both groups, and no side effects were reported. A burning sensati on was noted by two patients, one in each group. Conclusions. Lomefloxacin and ofloxacin were equally effective and safe in the treatment of acute bacterial conjunctivitis.