Bacteriologic and clinical efficacy of ofloxacin 0.3% versus ciprofloxacin0.3% ophthalmic solutions in the treatment of patients with culture-positive bacterial keratitis

Purpose. To compare the efficacy and safety of ofloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic so lution with ciprofloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solution in patients with culture -positive bacterial keratitis. Methods. Patients with a microbiologic diagn osis of bacterial keratitis were included in this double-masked, parallel-g roup study and were randomized to treatment with either ofloxacin 0.3% or c iprofloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solution. One drop of the study medication was instilled during the daytime according to the following schedule: every ha lf-hour on study day 1, every hour on days 2 through 4, and every 2 hours o n days 5 through 21. Healing, the primary outcome measure, was defined as c omplete reepithelialization, accompanied by nonprogression of stromal infil trate for 2 days. Secondary outcome measures included signs and symptoms of infection. Patients were monitored throughout the study period for any adv erse events. Results. A total of 217 patients completed the study: 112 were treated with ofloxacin and 105 were treated with ciprofloxacin. Streptococ cus pneumoniae was the most commonly encountered pathogen in all patients. Complete corneal reepithelialization occurred in 85% of those treated with ofloxacin and in 77% of those treated with ciprofloxacin (p = 0.32). The av erage rime to corneal ulcer healing was 13.7 days in those treated with ofl oxacin and 14.4 days in those treated with ciprofloxacin. Both treatments w ere well tolerated with no patient discontinuing the study because of side effects. Conclusion. Ofloxacin 0.3% and ciprofloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solut ions are effective and safe in the treatment of patients with culture-posit ive bacterial keratitis.