A randomised placebo-controlled trial of topical steroid in presumed viral conjunctivitis
- 1Department of Ophthalmology, Union Hospital, Hong Kong
- 2Department of Ophthalmology, Caritas Medical Centre, Hong Kong
- Correspondence to Dr Albert Chak-ming Wong, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Union Hospital, 18 Fu Kin Street, Tai Wai, New Territories, Hong Kong; dralbertcmw{at}gmail.com
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Contributors All authors contributed significantly to writing this letter.
- Accepted 19 October 2011
- Published Online First 3 November 2011
- Treatment surgery
- cornea
- conjunctiva
- public health
- lens and zonules
- epidemiology
- orbit
- eye lids
- public health
We read the article entitled ‘A randomised placebo-controlled trial of topical steroid in presumed viral conjunctivitis’ by Wilkins and colleagues1 with great interest. Although viral conjunctivitis is typically a self-limiting disease that resolves in 2 weeks, we agree that an agent that reduces clinical symptoms and minimises shedding of infectious virus would be desirable given the morbidity and potential economic impact associated with an outbreak of viral conjunctivitis.2 We have the following observations regarding the methodology and interpretation of the results.
Eighty-eight out of 111 randomised patients returned for review, that is, …
