Demography, clinical profile and efficacy of dual action topical agents in patients of vernal keratoconjunctivitis from rural population of eastern Rajasthan state of India

Abstract

Purpose: To study demographic and clinical profile of patients with vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) and to assess the efficacy and safety of treatment with topical agents having dual antihistaminic and mast cell stabilizing properties.Materials and Methods: This is a prospective, observational study of 100 patients of VKC. All demographic data and clinical features of VKC was observed and recorded. Patients were treated with one of the two treatment options namely Bepotastine besilate 1.5% and Olopatadine hydrochloride ophthalmic solutions. Typical symptoms and signs of VKC namely ocular itching, watering, conjunctival hyperemia, tarsal papillary hyperplasia and limbal involvement including Horner Trantas dots were recorded at baseline and at time of follow up on 7th day, 15th and 30th day using simplified scoring. Safety assessment was also done. Results: After 4 weeks of drug therapy, patients in both arms showed significant improvement in the symptoms and signs.Conclusion: VKC is a disease of younger population and having male preponderance. Both Bepotastine besilate 1.5% and Olopatadine hydrochloride 0.1% ophthalmic solutions were effective and safe in reducing the clinical symptoms and signs of VKC. However both the agents lacked efficacy in severe limbal forms of VKC.