vernal keratoconjunctivitis

Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is an allergic disease that typically affects young individuals, of which males are predominant. The disease involves the lids, conjunctiva, limbus and the cornea. The corneal changes range from punctate keratitis to shield ulcers. High incidences of keratoconus and abnormal corneal topographic patterns have been reported in these cases. The configuration of the corneal surface and the abnormal pattern of corneal surface can lead to vernal keratoconjunctivitis. Hence, an association between refractive errors and vernal keratoconjunctivitis was needed to be made.In our study we compared the refractive error with the stage of vernal keratoconjunctivitits (acute or chronic). Also we have tried to compare the type (limbal, bulbar or mixed) with the refractive error. Materials and methods: Fifty patients, ages ranging between 3 and 20 years, with Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis attending the ophthalmology outpatient department at Sri Siddhartha Medical College from December 2015 to December 2016 were included in the Study. The demographic data were noted, slit lamp evaluation and refractive error assessment were done for all patients. The data was compiled on a percentile basis of the two variables. Chi-square and Fisher's exact statistical analysis was used to study the association. Results: We found a male preponderance (78%) for the disease. Hypermetropia was the commonest (48% of patients) refractive error. Maximum patients manifested with signs of chronic Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (76% patients). Bulbar type of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis was commonest in our study group, (76% of patients). On evaluating the association of refractive error type with stage of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis, the P value was not significant, thus indicating their independence. Also on evaluating the type of refractive error with the clinical variant of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis, the p-value was not significant suggesting that they were independent. Conclusion: We found hypermetropia to be the commonest refractive error associated with VKC, followed by myopia and astigmatism. Perilimbal pigmentation suggestive of chronic Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis was the commonest stage of manifestation seen. Bulbar Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis was the commonest clinical type. There was no conclusive evidence to show an association between the refractive error and the stage and type of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis