Universiti Sains Malaysia, School of Medical Sciences, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II, Department of Ophthalmology, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Med J Malaysia. 2024 Jul;79(4):375-379.
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic allergic disease characterised by intense ocular surface symptoms and corneal involvement. There is limited data about the corneal changes in children with VKC based on severity of the disease. We aimed to compare the central corneal thickness (CCT) and corneal topographic indices in Malaysian children with VKC, as well as among the varying grades of VKC severity.
This study is a comparative, crosssectional and hospital-based study. We recruited 83 children with VKC and 83 healthy children as controls. All children underwent complete ocular examinations, CCT measurement using an ultrasound pachymeter and corneal topography using a Placido disc corneal analyser.
There was a statistically significant difference of means CCT and topographic indices in children with VKC compared to controls (p<0.05). The probability keratoconus reached 18% in children with VKC. The mean CCT was observed to be thinnest in the severe-to-very severe groups of VKC compared to the mild-to-moderate (p<0.05). The means simulated-K1 and -K2, apical keratometry, apical gradient curvature, superior-inferior index and keratoconus prediction index were significantly different in severe-tovery severe VKC compared to mild-to-moderate VKC and controls (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in mean cylinder value and percent probability keratoconus when comparing different groups of severity of VKC (p=0.912 and 0.070 respectively).
Children with VKC have thinner CCT and topographic indices changes compared to healthy children. Similar pattern was observed between groups with VKC. Degree of astigmatism and probability of keratoconus were similar in mild-to-moderate and severe-to-very severe groups.
春季角结膜炎（VKC）是一种慢性过敏性疾病，其特征为强烈的眼表症状和角膜受累。根据疾病的严重程度，有关 VKC 儿童的角膜变化的数据有限。我们旨在比较马来西亚 VKC 儿童的中央角膜厚度（CCT）和角膜地形指数，以及不同严重程度 VKC 儿童之间的差异。
这是一项比较性、横断面和基于医院的研究。我们招募了 83 名 VKC 儿童和 83 名健康儿童作为对照组。所有儿童均接受了全面的眼科检查、使用超声角膜测厚仪进行 CCT 测量以及使用 Placido 盘角膜分析仪进行角膜地形测量。
与对照组相比，VKC 儿童的 CCT 和地形指数均值存在统计学差异（p<0.05）。VKC 儿童的圆锥角膜概率达到 18%。与轻度至中度 VKC 相比，重度至极重度 VKC 组的平均 CCT 最薄（p<0.05）。与轻度至中度 VKC 和对照组相比，重度至极重度 VKC 的平均模拟 K1 和 K2、顶点角膜曲率、顶点梯度曲率、上下指数和圆锥角膜预测指数存在显著差异（p<0.05）。然而，当比较不同严重程度的 VKC 组时，平均圆柱值和圆锥角膜概率的差异无统计学意义（p=0.912 和 0.070 分别）。
与健康儿童相比，VKC 儿童的 CCT 和地形指数变化更薄。在 VKC 组之间也观察到了类似的模式。轻度至中度和重度至极重度 VKC 组之间的散光程度和圆锥角膜概率相似。
