Cromolyn effects on vernal keratoconjunctivitis in children.

A double-masked, coded trial was undertaken to evaluate the effect of the topical administration of 2% cromolyn sodium eye drops on vernal keratoconjunctivitis in 14 children. One eye of each patient was treated for one year with cromoly, the other eye with placebo. Cromolyn reduced the characteristic vernal keratitis, vernal corneal ulcers and plaques, and limbal edema and infiltrates but did not affect the number or size of the giant papillae. The drug's long-term topical use did not have any adverse side effects.