The efficacy and safety of ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.3% and norfloxacin ophthalmic solution 0.3% in the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis and blepharitis were compared in a double masked randomised study. A total of 131 patients, 65 treated with ciprofloxacin (42 with conjunctivitis and 23 with blepharitis) and 66 treated with norfloxacin (39 with conjunctivitis and 27 with blepharitis) were enrolled in the study at five centres in France. In the efficacy population, pathogens were eradicated or reduced in 96% (24/25) of patients in the ciprofloxacin group and 89% (24/27) in the norfloxacin group. There was no difference between treatments with regard to eradication of particular pathogens. In the efficacy population, clinical cure or improvement was seen in 96% of the patients (24/25 in the ciprofloxacin group and 26/27 in the norfloxacin group). There were no significant differences between ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin with respect to improvements in four symptoms or ten clinical signs. No serious treatment-related adverse events were reported and both ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin were well tolerated.