My name is Dr. Andrew Pucker. I am an optometrist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry, where I work in clinical practice, and am the Director of Clinical Research. My work is primarily focused on myopia management, contact lenses, and ocular surface disease. My colleagues and I recently reported the results of two investigator-initiated trials that compared patient-reported comfort after application of three common over-the-counter ocular allergy drops with different active ingredients. Our objective was to independently compare comfort outcomes for Pataday® Once Daily Relief Extra Strength, which is a 0.7% olopatadine solution, to Alaway^, which contains 0.035% ketotifen fumarate, and to VISINE^ Allergy Eye Relief Multi-Action Antihistamine and Redness Reliever, which is a combined solution of 0.3% pheniramine maleate and 0.025% naphazoline hydrochloride. Both prospective studies enrolled 159 healthy participants, and all treatments and assessments were completed during a single visit. Mean age was 26 years in both study populations. Study 1 compared Pataday® Extra Strength to Alaway^ and Study 2 compared Pataday® Extra Strength to VISINE^ Allergy Eye Relief. In both studies, the Pataday® drop or its comparator was applied to the right eye, and the other drop was then applied to the left eye. Pre- and post-drop application comfort were assessed using a visual analog scale, and between drop preferences with respect to overall comfort, stinging, burning, vision fluctuation, and foreign body sensation were evaluated using a Likert questionnaire. Study 1 results showed that participants reported significantly greater post-application comfort with Pataday® Extra Strength than with Alaway^. Likert questionnaire responses also revealed a general preference for the Pataday® drops on all items assessed. Similarly, data from Study 2 indicated significantly greater post-application comfort with Pataday® Extra Strength than with VISINE^ Allergy Eye Relief. Likert responses showed a numerical preference for Pataday® Extra Strength on all items, with the exception of vision fluctuation or blur, which was similar for both drops. Subjective ocular comfort after application is an important factor in patients’ experience with a topical eye drop. From the practitioner’s perspective, it is easy to see how patients may be more willing to regularly use a drop that is comfortable upon application. Pataday® Extra Strength has been shown in clinical studies to rapidly reduce ocular itch due to allergy and beyond that, provide effective 24-hour allergy itch relief. Our two comparative studies provide additional support for Pataday® Extra Strength in comparison to two common over-the-counter alternatives, based on the evidence of superior subjective comfort. This comfort advantage can be an important factor in best managing a patient’s ocular allergy itch complaints.
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