Twice-a-day versus four-times-a-day ofloxacin treatment of external ocular infection

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacies of 0.3% ofloxacin eyedrops, when given twice-a-day (BID) versus four-times-a-day (QID), for the treatment of external ocular disease.

Method: Fifty patients with blepharitis, conjuctivitis, or blepharoconjunctivitis were randomly assigned to treatment with 0.3% ofloxacin eyedrops, BID or QID, for 10 days. Signs, symptoms, and cultures were evaluated at the beginning and at the end of the study.

Results: The clinical outcome was virtually identical in the two groups. There was a significant decrease in clinical scores in the BID and QID groups by days 3 to 5 (2.6-3.0 points) and a further decrease by day 11 (4.3-5.0 points). There was no significant difference between the two groups at any time interval. Microbiologic studies showed a reduction in colony-forming units in 87% of the BID group and in 80% of the QID group.

Conclusion: The treatment of external ocular disease with 0.3% ofloxacin eyedrops was equally effective when given BID or QID.