Demographic and clinical profile of vernal keratoconjunctivitis at a tertiary eye care center in India

PURPOSE: To study the demographic and clinical profile of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) at a tertiary eye care center in India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective chart analysis of 468 patients of VKC seen from January 2006 to December 2006. RESULTS: Mean age at presentation was 12 years. Majority of the patients had mixed pattern disease (72%). Chronic perennial disease was seen in 36% patients. Personal or family history of allergies was noted in 5% patients. Severe disease based on clinical grading was present in 37% patients. Moderate to severe vision loss was seen in 12% of total population. Persistent disease beyond 20 years of age was found in 12% patients. VKC-related complications such as corneal scarring (11%), shield ulcer (3%), keratoconus (6%), and limbal stem cell deficiency (1.2%) were seen. Treatment-related complications like corticosteroid-induced cataract and glaucoma were seen in 6% and 4% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: Clinical pattern of VKC seen in the tropical climate of India is essentially similar to that seen in other tropical countries. Few distinct features that we noted represent chronic perennial disease, low association with atopy, and higher propensity for disease and treatment-related complications.