JOURNAL OF OCULAR PHARMACOLOGY Volume 7, Number 4, 1991 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., Publishers

Allergic Conjunctivitis:

A

Survey of

New Antihistamines

GREGG J.

BERDY,1 2 MARK B. ABELSON,12 MICHELLE A. GEORGE,1 LISA M. SMITH,1 and RICHARD L. GIOVANONI3

Massachusetts, 2Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, and 3Pharmulations, Inc.,

'Eye Research Institute, Boston,

Boston, Massachusetts

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the therapeutic value of a wide variety of Hi antihistamines for potential ophthalmic use by performing ocular toxicity and efficacy tests in rabbits and humans. Fourteen antihistamines were formulated into ophthalmic preparations and were screened in the rabbit model; of these, thirteen were preliminarily evaluated for toxicity and efficacy in humans. Based on comfort and efficacy, four (pheniramine, chlorpheniramine, dexbrompheniramine and pyrilamine) were selected for more extensive dose response and efficacy testing. 0.3% chlorpheniramine, dexbrompheniramine, pyrilamine and pheniramine significantly reduced histamine-induced itching (p