Clinical profile and management of vernal keratoconjunctivitis in a tertiary health care center, North Karnataka

:To evaluate the demography, clinical features, complications and management of patients with Vernal keratoconjunctivitis. A retrospective analysis of 80 patients who consulted in the Ophthalmology OPD of a tertiary care hospital in North Karnataka who were diagnosed with Vernal keratoconjunctivitis was done. This study was done from March 2020 to February 2021. Detailed ophthalmologic evaluation was done after taking a thorough history regarding symptoms, predisposing factors and family history. Patients were diagnosed based on their symptoms like redness, itching, watering, foreign body sensation etc and signs like papillae, limbal thickening etc into mild, moderate and severe. Detailed treatment history was also noted. Patients were also examined for any complications associated with VKC and also with the treatment. Mean age at presentation was 14.11 years ± 2.23 years. The male (M) to female (F) ratio was 1.29:1.Most of the patients had mixed pattern (71.25%) of disease. Personal or family history of allergy was noted in 5% of population. 10% of the population had moderate to severe vision loss. 30% of the patients had complications due to VKC. : Our study shows that vernal keratoconjunctivitis has early age of onset with higher male preponderance with frequent presentation during spring and summer season and less association with family history of allergy. VKC being a chronic disease need for long term follow up has to be advised and switching over to drugs like cyclosporine instead of steroids showed to be effective with minimal side effects.