2008 OMIG, Abstract 24

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Topical Interferon Alpha 2b Eye Drops for Treatment of Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia: A Dose Comparison Study
Anat Galor MD, Carol L. Karp MD, Sachin Chhabra MD, Scott Barnes MD, Eduardo C. Alfonso MD
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami


Purpose:   To compare the effectiveness and side effect profile of two doses of interferon alpha2b (IFNα2b) eye drops (1 million international units(IU)/ml versus 3 million IU/ml) in the treatment of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN).
Methods: Retrospective study.
Results:  Thirty-six eyes were identified over an 11 year period (1996-2007).  Twenty-two eyes (20 patients) were treated with 1 million IU/ml of topical IFN-α2b; 14 eyes (10 patients) were treated with 3 million IU/ml.  Baseline demographic and lesion characteristics were not statistically different between the two groups. The median time to OSSN resolution was 2.4 months in the 1 million IU/ml group and 1.9 months in the 3 million IU/ml group (p=0.54).  Topical therapy eliminated disease in a similar percentage of patients (73% versus 79%, respectively).  The side effect profile of the two doses was not significantly different with 9% and 21% of eyes experiencing mild side effects during therapy (p=0.30).  After median follow up of 8.2 months, no recurrences were seen in eyes successfully treated with topical therapy.
Conclusions: The effectiveness and side effect profile of the two commonly used doses of IFNα2b eye drops appear similar in our study. The cost/benefit analysis therefore supports the use of the 1 million IU/ml dose in the treatment of OSSN.

Unrestricted funds from Research to Prevent Blindness