Prevalence of Dry Eye in Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis in Pediatric Patients

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic, non-contagious allergic conjunctivitis caused by a hypersensitivity to airborne allergens characterized by chronic inflammation of the ocular surface usually affects pediatric children. This hospital-based cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of dry eye in VKC-affected pediatric patients presenting to the outpatient department of ophthalmology, National Medical College, Birgunj, Nepal. Ocular surface disease index (OSDI), tear-film breakup time (TBUT) using a slit lamp, and Schirmer’s test I (STI) were screened following standard procedure and guidelines. Out of 2871 children with active symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis, 177 children produced VKC. The prevalence of VKC was significantly higher among boys than that of girl’s children with a male-female ratio of 3.2:1. About 55% of VKC-affected children aged more than five years. More than 97% of children were affected in both eyes. The limbal type VKC (48.59%) was prevalent followed by the palpebral type (36.16%) and mixed type (15.25%) respectively. According to tear-film breakup time (TBUT); 103 children had TBUT in less than 10 sec which implies that more than 58% VKC affected children were suffering from dry eye disease. Schirmer’s test I for dry eye among the children showed 55.36% dry eye. The variation in the prevalence of dry eye disease might be due to climatic variations.