A Prospective Study to Find the Association of Astigmatism in Patients of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) in a Tertiary Health Care Centre in India (Vindhya Region MP)

Abstract

Introduction: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) /Spring catarrh is a chronic, bilateral, although it can occasionally present unilaterally1 at times asymmetrical, seasonally exacerbated, allergic inflammation of the ocular surface, involving the lids, conjunctiva (tarsal/bulbar), limbus and the cornea with periodic incidence of self-limited character mainly affecting patients in their first or second decade2 Aim: To conduct a prospective study to find the association of astigmatism in patients of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) in tertiary health care Centre. Material and Method: Hundred patients, age ranging between 5 and 20 years, with Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) attending the ophthalmology out-patient department at tertiary health care centre, Rewa, M.P., India from January 2020 to June 2021 were included in the study. Detailed history including a record of age, sex, place of residence, age of onset of symptoms, seasonal variation, associated allergic or atopic history, best corrected visual acuity, refractive status and autorefractometry was noted, and each patient was thoroughly examined with slit lamp. Result: Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is found to affect young males76 (76%) more than females 24 (24%). Male: female 3:1. 80% patients were below 16 years of age, more in summer in the month of May and June. Itching was the commonest presentation 100 (100%). Palpebral 59 (59%) form of the VKC was predominant type of all three. Myopia 28 (28%) was the commonest refractive error followed by Hypermetropia 9 (9%) and Astigmatism 19 (19%). Amongst astigmatism maximum were having mixed type astigmatism, palpebral form was mostly associated with astigmatism. Conclusion: We found myopia to be the commonest refractive error in patients of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis followed by hypermetropia and astigmatism. Chronic VKC was the commonest manifested stage. Palpebral Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis was the commonest clinical type.