To Study the Role of Topical Antibiotics in Management of Acute Viral Conjunctivitis

Context: The role of topical antibiotics in the management of acute viral conjunctivitis is identified and the time taken to heal conjunctivitis in a group treated with antibiotics and a group which is treated without antibiotics is compared. Settings and Design: The present study is undertaken at ophthalmology out patient department at Shree Krishna hospital in the western province of India. The patients were further divided by computer based simple randomization into two groups, one group received artificial tears and cold compression while the other group received topical antibiotics (ofloxacin), artificial tears and cold compression. Methods and Material: It is an interventional study where response from both the groups are measured in terms of the decrease in the amount of conjunctival congestion, symptomatic relief and progression of disease like corneal involvement on the day of presentation and thereafter weekly observations are taken for a span of 5 weeks. Statistical analysis used: This is a qualitative categorical study and hence required Chi Square Test and independent sample t-test analysis. Results: In this study, all the signs of acute viral conjunctivitis in both the groups disappeared at the same time i. e. in group A by 18.7 days (+/-8.75 days) and in group B by 18.4days (+/-8.5 days) with p-value of 0.74. Conclusion: From the results of our study, it is recommended that patients with acute viral conjunctivitis should not be given topical antibiotics. Artificial tears and cold compression are to be prescribed to reduce the symptoms of acute viral conjunctivitis.