ABSTRACT

  Loratadine is a commonly used anti histamine used to alleviate allergies and its symptoms. It is one of the second generation antihistamines used and it has no sedating effect.  This study was carried out to compare the effect of loratadine on the accommodation and lateral phoria across different intervals 60 mins, 120 mins and 180 mins after among undergraduates in the university of Benin, using 65 volunteers (33 males and 32 Females) who were between the ages 19 27 years (mean age 22.2615 ± 1.97 years). Clinical tests carried out on the subjects includes; case history visual acuity, external eye examination, internal eye examination, cover test, amplitude of accommodation and lateral phoria test. Ten milligrams of Loratadine was administered orally with water. The accommodation and phoria parameters were measured pre and post administration of Loratadine. The induced values were checked 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours after Loratadine intake. Using the t test statistical analysis, results showed that a peak effect of loratadine on accommodation occurred at 2 hours post administration. Statistically, there was a significant change in accommodation resulting in a decline at 1 hour and 2 hours post administration respectively p=0.000. Also, there was a statistically significant change in lateral phoria at far at 1 hour and 2 hours post administration. There was also a change in lateral phoria at near. The change in accommodation showed a reduction in the amplitude of accommodation while the change in lateral phoria at both far and near was towards exophoria