25/01/2024
Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) or spring catarrh is a recurrent, seasonal, bilateral allergic inflammation of the conjunctiva common in children and young adults especially in males. It is common in tropical countries with incidence in the summer season while in some patients disease tends to persist throughout the year with acute exacerbation in summer. It is caused by a delayed hypersensitive reaction to exogenous allergens such as dust, pollens, heat etc., and family history of atopy is common. The main symptoms are intense itching, redness, foreign body sensation, burning, photophobia ,thick mucus discharge and sometimes ptosis of eyelids giving a sleepy look. It occurs in three varieties as bulbar, palpebral and mixed form. The Bulbar or Limbal variety is common and is associated with formation of mucoid nodules at the limbus, while in the palpebral variety on everting the upper lid there is an appearance of hypertrophied conjunctiva in the form of polygonal, flat topped papillae that causes pseudo-ptosis of the eyelid. The cornea may get involved in both varieties leading to superficial punctate keratitis, shield ulceration and pseudogerontoxon (ring opacity) that may affect the vision. Onset of VKC is usually after the age of 5 years and usually resolved around the time of puberty. Homeopathy is very effective in the treatment and cure of this condition if an appropriate remedy is selected based on the homeopathic principle of similimum.
A case of vernal conjunctivitis, 6 year old male child.