Dr. Rajasekar K
BACKGROUND Conjunctival diseases of the eye are varied with significant environmental influence. Though they are widely prevalent with lot of morbidity associated with it, still it is not taken that very seriously as Corneal or Retinal conditions. Yet these conjunctival diseases lead to lot of loss of productive Man Hours at work and also absenteeism at school. We decided to take up one such condition called Vernal Conjunctivitis also known by names like spring catarrh, seasonal allergic conjunctivitis etc. Its chronic course with seasonal exacerbations was studied in detail and analysed in this study. The aim of the study is to analyse aetiopathogenesis and clinical profile of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) amongst patients attending our Eye Department at a Tertiary Care Medical College Hospital in Chennai from patient records of past 6 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study analysing patient records at our Department of Ophthalmology, Government Omandurar Medical College Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Analysing 100 patients with VKC identified by detailed history, characteristic symptomatology, and clinical profile, through a study period from March 2017 to August 2017. The detailed questionnaire took details on patients’ occupation, socioeconomic status, nutrition levels, onset, course, response to therapy, other allergies if any etc. Detailed slitlamp examination, visual acuity, IOP and tear film assessment were done. Regular follow-up carried out every 4 weeks for 6 months. RESULTS Out of 100 patients, 73 (73%) were male and 27 (27%) were female. The maximum incidence of VKC was seen in the age group of 11–15 years. Maximum cases (62%) had palpebral form secondly mixed form (23%) and bulbar form (15%). Corneal complications occurred in 16 patients. The minor complications seen in 11 patients consisted of superficial punctate keratopathy (SPK). The major complications mainly superior pannus was seen in 5 patients. Though many of our VKC patients gave a history of allergy/atopy such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, hay fever etc., in the present study, actually coexisting allergic conditions could be identified in only 30% patients. CONCLUSION VKC is a relatively common subtype of allergic conjunctivitis with max occurrence in males of 11–15 years age group. Of its subtypes most common is palpebral form followed by mixed and bulbar forms. Some cases showed history of atopy and other allergic conditions.
