Abstract :
Background: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is an unusually severe sight-threatening allergic eye disease, occurring mainly in children. Children with VKC present with severe ocular symptoms, that is, severe eye itching and irritation, constant tearing, red eye, eye discharge, and photophobia. Though medically treated, some complications of the disease like ptosis may require surgical intervention, thus identifying the association of ptosis with VKC is of utmost importance. This study was done to see the relation between long-standing VKC and acquired ptosis in young adults.
Materials and Methods: This was a hospital based non-comparative, observational study, conducted in the department of Ophthalmology, SKIMS Medical College Hospital, and Srinagar from March 2020 to May 2022. 60 patients upto the age of 40 years with any form of VKC were included in the study. Ocular examination included visual acuity testing, slit lamp biomicroscopic examination to evaluate corneal and conjunctival involvement, proper history and evaluation of ptosis.
Results: Mean age of cases was 16.23± 6.97. Out of 60 patients maximum were in the age group of 10-15 years (31.66%), followed by the age group of 15-20 years (21.66%). Out of total 60 cases 46(76.66%) were male and 14(23.33%) were female. Palpebral form of the disease was seen to be in most of the cases 53.33%, followed by mixed form of the disease in 28.33% and bulbar disease in 18.33% of the cases. Presence of acquired ptosis as a complication due to VKC was seen in 9(15%) patients. Out of these 9 patients 7 patients presented with unilateral ptosis and 2 patients presented with bilateral ptosis. Average duration of symptoms in these patients was 5.0±1.8 years, indicating that ptosis is a complication of long standing VKC. All these patients had palpebral or mixed form of VKC, none had bulbar form of the disease.
Conclusion: Our study revealed that prolonged severe VKC may induce a lower position of the upper eyelid and eventually lead to ptosis, which is a non-reversible complication of VKC and requires surgical correction. Thus better primary eye care for the management of VKC in children may prevent this complication.
Keyword :
VKC, Ptosis, Complication