Background: Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a seasonally recurring bilateral allergic condition of the cornea and conjunctiva characterized by symptoms like itching, watering, foreign body sensation and ropy discharge. Chronic epithelial trauma provoked by eye rubbing due to intense ocular itching has been postulated as an important risk factor in the pathogenesis of keratoconus in VKC patients.

Objectives: To detect anterior corneal surface changes like astigmatism and keratoconus by topographic evaluation of cornea.

Methodology: This was a cross sectional study carried out on 424 eyes of 212 patients between 5 to 20 years of age at Post Graduate Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, Srinagar between September 2016 and September 2018. Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA), slit lamp examination, pachymetry, fundus examination and corneal topography was done in all the patients. Parameters like steep K, Sim K astigmatism, I-S difference and SRAX were analysed and keratoconus like topography noted.

Results: Out of 212 patients, 145 were males and 67 were females. Majority were in the age group of 5- 10 years. Among the study eyes, Kmax> 47.2 D was seen in 10.1 %, Sim K astigmatism > 1.5D in 29%, I-S difference > 1.2 D  in 19.6 % , SRAX > 21° in 20% and K max>47.2 D + Sim K astigmatism > 1.5 D i.e keratoconus like topography was seen in 7.5 %.

Conclusion: Incidence of astigmatism and keratoconus in VKC patients is more when compared to general population of the same age group.

Keywords: Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis(VKC), Topography, Astigmatism, Keratoconus.

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Dr Birjees Hakak

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