Approved uses
Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis
1 drop in the affected eye(s) QID
Itching and injection begin easing about 2 hours after the first drop, improving through day 14.
Contraindications
- Most viral diseases of the cornea and conjunctiva, including epithelial herpes simplex keratitis (dendritic keratitis), vaccinia, and varicella; mycobacterial infection of the eye; fungal diseases of ocular structures.
- Known or suspected hypersensitivity to any ingredient of the preparation or to other corticosteroids.
Available FormsOphthalmic suspension, 0.2% (loteprednol etabonate 2 mg/mL), 5 mL in a 7.5 mL bottle, 10 mL in a 10 mL bottle
Mechanism of ActionCorticosteroid: induces lipocortins that inhibit phospholipase A2, cutting release of arachidonic acid and the prostaglandins and leukotrienes downstream of it, and suppressing edema, capillary dilation, leukocyte migration, fibroblast proliferation, and collagen deposition, while also probably delaying healing. Highly lipid soluble and lacking the position-20 ketone group present in other corticosteroids, it is built to undergo predictable conversion to inactive carboxylic acid metabolites; plasma levels of drug and primary metabolite stayed below 1 ng/mL after ocular dosing.
Pregnancy & Lactation
Pediatric Use