RESUMO
PURPOSE: Olopatadine hydrochloride 0.1% ophthalmic solution is a topical antiallergy agent indicated for treatment of the signs and symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the comfort of olopatadine used for contact lens wearers in the conjunctival allergen-challenge (CAC) model. METHODS: This was a single-center, randomized, double-masked, parallel-controlled CAC study. Contact lens-wearing subjects with a history of allergic conjunctivitis were randomized to receive olopatadine or placebo bilaterally. Fifteen minutes after study medication instillation, subjects inserted contact lenses. Allergen challenge was performed 10 minutes after contact lens insertion. Subjective evaluations of ocular comfort were obtained immediately and every minute after CAC, up to and including 10 minutes. Thereafter, comfort evaluations were made every 5 minutes up to and including 60 minutes. Subjects evaluated itching at 3, 7, and 10 minutes and redness was graded at 5, 10, and 20 minutes. All evaluations were graded on standardized scales. Subjects were given diaries in which to rate comfort at 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, and 13 hours and the time of contact lens removal. RESULTS: At post-study medication instillation, post-lens insertion, and at time points from 1 to 10 minutes post-allergen challenge, ocular comfort evaluations were statistically superior in subjects receiving olopatadine as compared with those receiving placebo (P < 0.05). The difference in time until contact lens removal was clinically significant, with subjects who were treated with olopatadine wearing lenses for an average of 2.1 hours longer than placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: As evidenced by significantly greater comfort and longer duration of lens wear, olopatadine provides superior comfort to contact lens wearers suffering from the signs and symptoms of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, as induced by the CAC model.