Vernal keratoconjunctivitis

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis

Some of the cornea and conjunctiva findings in vernal conjunctivitis
Classification and external resources
Specialty Ophthalmology

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) or Spring catarrh is a recurrent, bilateral, and self-limiting inflammation of conjunctiva, having a periodic seasonal incidence.

Sign and symptoms

  1. Palpebral form- Usually upper tarsal conjunctiva of both the eyes is involved. Typical lesion is characterized by the presence of hard, flat-topped papillae arranged in cobblestone or pavement stone fashion. In severe cases papillae undergo hypertrophy to produce cauliflower-like excrescences of 'giant papillae'.
  2. Bulbar form- It is characterised by dusky red triangular congestion of bulbar conjunctiva in palpebral area, gelatinous thickened accumulation of tissue around limbus and presence of discrete whitish raised dots along the limbus (Tranta's spots).
  3. Mixed form- Shows the features of both palpebral and bulbar types.

Cause

VKC is thought to be an allergic disorder in which IgE mediated mechanism play a role. Such patients often give family history of other atopic diseases such as hay fever, asthma or eczema, and their peripheral blood shows eosinophilia and increased serum IgE levels.

Predisposing factors

Pathology

Vernal keratopathy

Corneal involvement in VKC may be primary or secondary due to extension of limbal lesions. Vernal keratopathy includes 5 types of lesions.

  1. Punctuate epithelial keratitis.
  2. Ulcerative vernal keratitis.
  3. Vernal corneal plaques.
  4. Subepithelial scarring.
  5. Pseudogerontoxon.

Treatment

See also

References

  1. Shah, Syed Imtiaz Ali (2014). Concise Ophthalmology (4th ed.). Paramount. p. 31. ISBN 978-969-637-001-7.

Further reading

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