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Is Homatropine 5% effective in reducing pain associated with corneal abrasion when compared with placebo? A randomized controlled trial
Author(s) -
Meek Robert,
Sullivan Andy,
Favilla Marcel,
Larmour Ian,
Guastalegname Steven
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
emergency medicine australasia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.602
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1742-6723
pISSN - 1742-6731
DOI - 10.1111/j.1742-6723.2010.01346.x
Subject(s) - medicine , placebo , visual analogue scale , corneal abrasion , randomized controlled trial , anesthesia , pain score , clinical endpoint , cornea , ophthalmology , alternative medicine , pathology
Objective: To compare the change in visual analogue scale (VAS) pain ratings over 24 h following mechanical corneal abrasion between patients receiving sixth hourly drops of either 5% homatropine or placebo. Methods: A triple blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on a convenience sample of eligible consenting adults who were randomized to receive either sixth hourly 5% homatropine (active) or 0.5% hypromellose (placebo) eye drops. VAS pain ratings were performed at 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h whereas the study drug was instilled at 0, 6, 12 and 18 h. The primary outcome was attainment of a clinically significant reduction in pain on the VAS (>20 mm decrease) from enrolment to each time point. Results: There were no significant differences in baseline variables or VAS pain ratings at any time point between those in the homatropine ( n = 20) and placebo ( n = 20) groups. The percentages of patients reporting a >20 mm VAS decrease at 12 h were 50% (95% CI –27.2–72.8) and 60% (95% CI –36.1–80.9) for the homatropine and placebo groups, respectively. Conclusion: We found no significant difference in pain score reductions between the two groups but some level of therapeutic benefit is not excluded.