Imipramine inhibiton of ragweed allergic conjunctivitis

Twenty-seven patients sensitive to ragweed pollen were treated with topical imipramine 0.05% in one eye and vehicle in the other in a double-masked fashion. The eyes treated with imipramine showed significantly less redness, tearing, and discomfort after exposure to pollen extract. Imipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant, appears to be an effective antihistamine in the eye.