Twice-daily and once-daily nedocromil sodium 2% ophthalmic solution for the treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis

In this 8-week open-label, prospective study, 30 patients with grass pollen allergy and ocular itching instilled nedocromil sodium 2% ophthalmic solution twice daily for a 5-day baseline period, followed by once-daily dosing thereafter. Physicians assessed clinical signs after the twice-daily period and after weeks 1 and 3 of the once-daily period; patients rated ocular symptoms daily. Use of specified rescue medication was permitted. Symptom scores for ocular itching, stinging, redness, swelling, burning, tearing, and light sensitivity did not differ significantly between the dosage periods. Scores for erythema, edema, conjunctival injection, and the entire conjunctiva decreased slightly during once-daily administration; discharge scores were unchanged. Of the 20 patients who used rescue medication, only 5 increased their usage by more than two doses per week during the oncedaily period. Eighty-three percent of patients were willing to continue the oncedaily regimen during the next allergy season. Physicians rated overall control of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis with once-daily administration as “good” or “moderate” in 100% of the patients; 93% of patients applied those ratings themselves. Nedocromil sodium 2% ophthalmic solution instilled once daily maintains control of symptoms in patients who are established on a twice-daily regimen.