Chris D Kalogeropoulos
University of Ioannina
Greece
Title: New concepts in vernal keratoconjunctivitis during childhood
Biography
Biography: Chris D Kalogeropoulos
Abstract
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a very important allergic eye disease in children, especially in boys, potentially sight threatening in some cases. VKC is usually characterized by seasonal exacerbation and resolves by puberty. The disease has a geographical variation (increased incidence in hot-dry areas). The onset presents between 3 to 5 years (in early childhood). There are two main clinical types: palpebral and limbal. The complications of VKC include loss of vision, corneal scarring, keratoconus, limbal stem cell deficiency, steroid induced cataract and glaucoma and behavior alterations. Antistamines, mast cell stabilizers and topical steroid constitute the classic treatment. However, recently topical cyclosporine-A is a new approach to the treatment of VKC. Injection of sub-tarsal short and long-acting steroids can be used. Surgically, cryoablation and/or surgery of tarsal cobblestones and amniotic membrane transplantation are also performed. A new grading system of VKC based on the seventy of the disease has been proposed and different treatment options are oriented according to the clinical grade of VKC. The goal regarding the management of VKC is to prevent severe complications before puberty since afterwards a remission of the disease is observed. Therefore, grading of VKC is useful for clinicians and researches to classify disease activity and to establish an agreement for treatments.