A retrospective study about clinical profile of vernal keratoconjunctivitis patients at a tertiary care hospital in Patiala, Punjab, India

Abstract

Objective: To study variations in clinical profile of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) among local population with data collected at our tertiary care hospital over a period of 6 months. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was carried out in the Department of Ophthalmology at Government Medical College, Patiala, Punjab, India. A total of 150 patients with VKC were diagnosed on the grounds of their history, the presence of characteristic symptom, and on the basis of their clinical features, over a period of 6 months from March 2017 to August 2017. The history of each patient was taken including a record of age, sex, place of residence, change of place of residence, age at onset of the disease, seasonal variations, associated allergic or “atopic” illnesses, and family history of VKC or associated allergic or atopic conditions. Best-corrected visual acuity was assessed and each patient was thoroughly examined with a slit lamp. Follow-up was done every 4 weeks for 6 months. Results: Out of 150 patients, 110 (73.33%) were male and 40 (26.67%) were female. The highest incidence of VKC occurred in the age group of 11–15 years. Maximum cases (62%) had palpebral form followed by mixed form (23.33%) and bulbar form (14.67%). Corneal complications occurred in 22 (14.67%) patients; 20 patients had minor complications and 2 had major complications. The minor complications usually consisted of superficial punctate keratopathy (SPK) or other epithelial disturbance. Major complications consisted of superior pannus. Although patients with VKC often give a history of allergy or of atopic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, or hay fever, in the present study, coexisting allergic conditions could be detected in only 45 (30%) patients. Conclusion: VKC is a common form of allergic conjunctivitis and the disease tends to occur in males of 11–15 years age group. Most common is palpebral form followed by mixed and bulbar forms. Some cases showed history of atopy and other allergic conditions.