Rev Bras Oftalmol.2026;85:e0036
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis and life beyond the symptoms: a clinical and quality of life evaluation at a tertiary eye care hospital
DOI: 10.37039/1982.8551.20260036
ABSTRACT
Objective:
To determine the clinical profile of pediatric patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis and its impact on their health-related quality of life.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2024 to July 2024 at a Tertiary Eye Care Hospital in Rawalpindi, including 55 diagnosed vernal keratoconjunctivitis patients. The clinical data were recorded on a pre-structured clinical proforma. The health-related quality of life was evaluated using the adapted questionnaire based on a 5-point Likert Scale. The statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 26) and Pearson’s Chi-Squared test to determine the association between the clinical profile and health-related quality of life.
Results:
Of 55 vernal keratoconjunctivitis patients, 42 (76.4%) patients were male. The mean age of the patients was 10.44 years with a standard deviation of 3.59. The primary symptoms reported were itching (100%), lacrimation (87.3%), and photophobia (87.3%). Most patients were classified as having a mild form (58.2%), and 52.7% exhibited the palpebral type of vernal keratoconjunctivitis. A statistically significant association between the severity of vernal keratoconjunctivitis and the scores of health-related quality of life (p-value <0.05) was observed.
Conclusion:
The health-related quality of life was compromised among vernal keratoconjunctivitis patients, and the scores were considerably lower among patients with a severe type of vernal keratoconjunctivitis. Tailored and timely treatment can mitigate the negative impact of vernal keratoconjunctivitis on children’s health-related quality of life.
