A STUDY TO EVALUATE AND COMPARE THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF TOPICAL CYCLOSPORINE-A 0.5% WITH TOPICAL PLACEBO (ARTIFICIAL TEARS) IN ALLEVIATING THE CLINICAL FEATURES ASSOCIATED WITH VERNAL KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS

Abstract

Introduction: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis is a severe, typically seasonal recurrent ocular inflammatory disorder. Topical cyclosporine-A is inhibitory to many T-cell dependent inflammatory mechanisms which are likely to play role in treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

Methodology: The study was conducted on 100 patients of vernal keratoconjunctivits selected from Ophthalmology out patients Department of Dr. D.Y Patil Hospital, Pune. Patients were divided in two groups of 50 each, group I and group II. It was double masked comparison study to assess and compare the efficacy of 0.5% topical Cyclosporine-A and topical placebo in the treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivits.

Results: Comparing therapeutic response of symptoms in two groups at day 28 of the study shows topical cyclosporine was better and favored over placebo. Patients showed improvement in following symptoms accordingly. Itching: 49 in group I, 33 in group II. Discharge: 33 in group I, 4 in group II. Photophobia: 32 in group I, 1 in group II. Foreign body sensation: 35 group I, 11 in group II. Patients showed improvement in following signs accordingly: Conjunctival inflammation: 40 in group I, 11 in group II. Papillary hypertrophy: 15 in group I, none in group II. Limbal changes: 7 in group I, none in group II.

Conclusion: The use of topical cyclosporine for treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis should be encouraged to prevent complications associated with the natural course of the disease and prolonged topical use of corticosteroids.