Comparison of efficacy of topical bepotastine besilate and alcaftadine in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis

To compare efficacy of bepotastine besilate (1.5%) versus alcaftadine (0.25%) in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis.This comparative, randomized, single-blind and prospective study was conducted on 100 patients diagnosed with VKC, who were allocated to receive either of the two treatment groups. Group A received Alcaftdine eye drops once daily, while Group B received bepotastine besilate twice daily for 8 weeks. The efficacy assessment was done at baseline and then at 4 and 8 weeks post-treatment using following parameters - Primary endpoints included clinical symptoms score and clinical signs score and secondary endpoint included upper tarsal conjunctival brush cytology for eosinophil count.Intra-group analysis of clinical symptoms and clinical signs score showed statistically significant reduction in both scores and eosionophil count when compared to baseline values with both the drugs. On inter-group analysis, it was found that there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in reduction in clinical symptoms and clinical signs score and eosinophil count. This study concluded that both drugs proved equally efficacious in relieving signs and symptoms of VKC. Difference in improvement of signs, symptoms, eosinophil count between both the groups drugs was not statistically significant.