Efficacy of nedocromil 2% versus fluorometholone 0.1%: a randomised, double masked trial comparing the effects on severe vernal keratoconjunctivitis

AIMS: To compare the efficacy of topical nedocromil 2% with fluorometholone 0.1% in vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC). METHODS: In a double masked random design, 24 patients with severe vernal keratoconjunctivitis were placed at random on nedocromil 2% eye drops in one eye and fluorometholone 0.1% in the fellow eye. At the end of the 2 week treatment period, the patient crossed over the eye drops (if asymptomatic in one eye), or continued with nedocromil sodium in both eyes (if asymptomatic in both eyes). All patients were examined weekly and ocular surface temperature recorded for a period of 6 weeks. RESULTS: Improvement in the watering, discharge, conjunctival hyperaemia, papillary hypertrophy, and Trantas' dots was noted in both groups, but overall fluorometholone was significantly more effective than nedocromil. Eyes treated with fluorometholone showed a significant decrease in ocular surface temperature compared with nedocromil treated eyes (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Both nedocromil and fluorometholone were effective in ameliorating the signs and symptoms of vernal keratoconjunctivitis. No adverse effects were noted in the nedocromil group.