Abstract
Purpose :
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) may have undergone changes in clinical findings due to the spread of immunosuppressive eye drops treatment. Several studies suggest the effects of air pollution and allergic disorders. We report the sequential incidence and clinical findings of new patients of VKC in our department during the past 10 years.
Methods :
A total of 104 new patients of VKC under 19 years old treated at Fukuoka University from January 2009 to December 2018 were enrolled. We examined clinical findings and initial treatment at the first visit.
Results :
There were 80 men (81%) and 24 women (19%). The proportion of women have changed from year to year. The number of VKC was 11~14 from 2009 to 2014, however it has decreased 6~ 9 after 2015. There were 78 cases (75%) of the palpebral type, 18 cases (17%) of the limbal type, and 8 cases (8%) of the mixed type. The initial treatment was tacrolimus eye drops in 58 cases (56%), followed by triamcinolone palpebral subcutaneous injection in 27 cases (26%). A large number of cases were observed in 39 cases (38%) in spring and 34 cases (33%) in summer. The annual mean temperature in Japan increased from 2015, and patients of VKC tended to decrease around the same time. It was suggested that the number of patients with VKC may decrease when the annual mean temperature is high in Japan.
Conclusions :
In our department, the number of new patients of VKC did not increase. It was suggested that the change in the medical care situation due to the spread of immunosuppressive eye drops and then suspected that the annual mean temperature was higher than after 2015.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.