SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL PROFILE OF PATIENTS OF VERNAL KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS IN A TERTIARY EYE CARE CENTER OF NORTHERN-WESTERN RAJASTHAN

Abstract

Purpose: To study the demographic and clinical profile of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) at a tertiary eye care center in Northern-Western Rajasthan. 

Materials and Methods: It was a hospital based observation study conducted from January 2017 to December 2017 in 300 patients of VKC. Data regarding sociodemographic and clinical profile were collected by using predesigned semi structured questionnaire.

Results: Out of 300 patients, VKC was more common in male patients with M:F ratio of 7.3:1. Mostly presented between 6-20 years of age. Maximum number of cases i.e., 45.6% were presented in summer months of April-June. Mixed type was most common type seen in 70.3% cases followed by isolated limbal (27.7%) whereas isolated palpebral form was seen only in 2% of cases. Most common symptoms were itching, redness and watering (100%) seen in all cases. Conjunctival hyperaemia was commonest sign.

Conclusion: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis is a recurrent bilateral disorder, affecting primarily boys and onset is generally from about age of 6 years onwards and resolves around puberty. The clinical course of this disease is usually benign and self-limiting, with vision in most children remains normal but sight threatening complications may manifest if cornea gets involved.

Keywords: Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis, clinical profile, sociodemography