| ARTICLE |
|
| Year : 2000 | Volume
: 5
| Issue : 2 | Page : 101-107 |
|
|
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (spring catarrh): A review of epidemiology, pathogenesis and management
Chimdi M Chuka-Okosa
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
Chimdi M Chuka-Okosa
Dept. of Ophthalmology UNTH, Enugu
Nigeria
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
|
|
|
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis(VKC), a common ocular disease, is one of the allergic eye diseases. It has a worldwide distribution but is more common in hot countries. Fifty per cent of sufferers are aged between 6 and 20 years. More males are affected than females before puberty and 90% of cases resolve within 10 years of the disease onset.
VKC is classified into 3 types: the palpebral or tarsal form, the limbal or bulbar form and the mixed forms. The corneal signs of the disease range from the benign punctate epithelial keratitis to the plaque formation.
Sight-threatening complications could result from corneal involvement or indiscriminate use of steroids.
Apart from steroids advised to be used only during exacerbations of the disease other safer treatment options include topical mast cell stabilisers and antihistamines.
|
|
|
|
| [PDF]* |
|
 |
|
