The clinical significance of perilimbal conjunctival pigmentation in vernal conjunctivitis.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the extent of perilimbal conjunctival pigmentation and limbal palisadal pigmentation in patients with vernal conjunctivitis and controls and correlate it with the duration of disease.

STUDY DESIGN

Case control study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

Eye Department, Combined Military Hospital, Abbottabad, from May 2009 to March 2010.

METHODOLOGY

One hundred subjects including 50 patients with vernal conjunctivitis and 50 controls were studied. Demographic data, family and personal history, disease duration, symptoms, signs, complications and extent of perilimbal and palisadal conjunctival pigmentation were recorded among patients and controls. Mann Whitney-U test and Spearman's rho test were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The extent of perilimbal conjunctival pigmentation in patients with vernal conjunctivitis was more than controls (p < 0.0001). Similarly, limbal palisadal pigmentation was also more extensive than controls (p = 0.004). There was no correlation between the duration of disease and severity of conjunctival pigmentation (r = 0.24) (p = 0.086).

CONCLUSION

The presence of increased perilimbal and limbal palisadal conjunctival pigmentation among patients with vernal conjunctivitis is a specific sign of vernal conjunctivitis.