Here’s a possible solution for your allergic patients’ miseries this spring. A recently published study indicates that loteprednol etabonate (Lotemax) is safe and effective for ocular allergies and doesn’t increase intraocular pressure the way corticosteroids such as fluorometholone and prednisolone can.

Sixty-seven of 135 study participants were given eye drops containing loteprednol etabonate 0.2% ophthalmic suspension, while 68 received placebo. The group treated with loteprednol etabonate experienced significant improvement in their symptoms over the placebo group. Only one patient in each group experienced elevated intraocular pressure, while usually with patients on corticosteroids the figures range from 33% to 44%.

According to one of the investigators, David G. Shulman, M.D., of San Antonio, Texas, this is especially good news for patients concerned about taking steroids, including patients who suffer from glaucoma.