Allergic conjunctivitis, commonly referred to as ocular allergy, encompasses several types, including atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC), vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC), contact blepharoconjunctivitis (CBC), and giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC). Meanwhile, AKC, VKC, and CBC can be IgE-mediated types of ocular allergic reactions, whereas GPC is a non-allergic hypersensitivity reaction.^(1,2) Vernal keratoconjunctivitis is mainly chronic, bilateral, often asymmetrical, progressive, and can be potentially vision-threatening, affecting both children and adults. Palpebral/tarsal VKC presents as giant cobblestone papillae (if > 1 mm) on the upper tarsal plate. In limbal VKC, infiltration of the limbal conjunctiva occurs in the form of Horner-Trantas dots. In mixed VKC, both upper tarsal and limbal conjunctiva are affected.⁽³⁾

Current statistics have shown that Asia has the highest VKC prevalence due to its warm, dry climate and air pollution. Majorly affected regions include Japan, China, India, and Pakistan.⁽⁴⁾ The etiology of VKC involves the complex combination of ocular hypersensitivity reactions, mainly type 1 and type 4 reactions, that lead to the classical presentation of symptoms among affected patients. Typical symptoms of VKC include intense ocular itching (pruritus), redness, irritation, tearing, photophobia, mucous discharge, foreign body sensations, and ocular pain if the corneal surface is disturbed.⁽⁵⁾ The presentation of small papillae (size ranging from 1mm in diameter) to large cobblestone formation on the tarsal conjunctiva and the presence of limbal corneal infiltrates known as Horner-Trantas dots surrounding the cornea are the supporting diagnostic signs of VKC.⁽⁶⁾

In 2002, Leonardi et al. described the suffering of a VKC patient in the following words: "When you see a child suffering from VKC, you instantly feel the dearth in the knowledge of its pathogenesis that prevents you from adequately treating the signs and symptoms that will most likely ruin their childhood".^(7,8) Analyzing both the clinical presentations and HR-QoL can provide a comprehensive understanding of the disease to better identify the contributing factors of the disease, along with their relevant treatment and management strategies. Whereas most of the existing literature primarily focuses on the clinical aspects of the disease, with limited highlights of the psychosocial aspects of VKC.

This study aimed to determine the clinical profile of pediatric patients with VKC and its impact on their health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). As a result, the findings from this study can aid in developing individually tailored treatments and interventions, as well as initiating public health programs to improve the HR-QoL among affected patients and their families, ultimately aiming to enhance their overall well-being.

The majority of the participants in the study were males (76.4%). Meanwhile, 56.4% of the participants were present in the age group between 5 and 11 years of age. Nearly 50% of the patients had Mild/no visual impairment (Table 1).

The most frequently presented symptoms were intense ocular itching (100%), followed by lacrimation (87.30%), photophobia (87.30%), foreign body sensation (83.60%), red eyes (76.40%), and burning sensation (62%). On sign-wise evaluation, congestion (85.5%), palpebral papillary hypertrophy (90.9%), Horner-Trantas dots (38.2%), limbal conjunctival edema (49.1%), discharge (61.8%), corneal erosions (21.8%) were present. Based on type, 52.7% of patients had palpebral VKC. The most commonly presented corneal complication associated with VKC was keratoconus (27.30%) (Figure 1).

Based on the type, 52.7% of patients presented with palpebral and 38.2% presented with a mixed type of VKC. Furthermore, 58.2% of patients had a mild type of VKC (Table 2).

Functional vision was a highly affected domain in the HR-QoL of patients. Emotional functioning was affected mainly in terms of anger. Patients reported disturbance in their school functioning, affecting their levels of concentration and vision-related tasks in their school settings. In contrast, social functioning was least affected, which reflected the ability of patients to maintain their social relationships. The data shows that VKC puts a noticeable burden on the patient's families, increasing their caregiving duties and emotional stress (Table 3).

No statistically significant association was observed between the patients’ sociodemographic characteristics and their quality of life. Pearson's Chi-Square test results have shown a statistically significant association of HR-QoL with visual impairment, onset of symptoms, frequent changes in glasses prescription, signs, symptoms, and disease severity (Table 4).

This study was designed to analyze the clinical profile and HR-QoL of patients diagnosed with VKC, and determine the association between the demographic status, type, and severity of VKC and their HR-QoL. The demographic statistics of the current study are consistent with those of previous studies. The male-to-female ratio in this study was found to be 3:1, which shows the male preponderance that confirms its global pattern of gender discrepancy. This perfectly aligns with the previous study conducted by Minhas et al.^(14–16) This discrepancy between female-to-male ratio can be attributed to the long-term exposure of the male population to warm, dry climates, and allergens. Studies have also shown the role of male sex hormones, mainly estrogen and progesterone, in the exacerbation of VKC.^(17–19)

The most frequent presenting symptoms reported by the individuals affected by VKC were itching, lacrimation, and photophobia, consistent with the previous studies that found itching, photophobia, lacrimation, and redness as major presenting symptoms manifested by the patients.^(14,20,21) This study has shown that VKC is predominantly of the palpebral type, followed by the mixed type. A previous study conducted at the Ophthalmology Department of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) Karachi has shown similar results.⁽²²⁾ Some other studies argue that mixed and limbal variants of VKC are more prevalent in Asian and African regions, with some variation in geographical distribution.⁽²³⁾ This difference can be attributed mainly to the environmental factors and lack of individually tailored treatment options that progress to mixed types of VKC among patients.⁽²⁰⁾

The patients’ Visual acuity was measured using the Snellen chart, and the patients’ best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was recorded. The WHO classification of low vision was used to analyze visual impairment. Fortunately, most of the patients had mild/no visual impairment. According to the severity of VKC, the mild form was the most common presentation. Almost similar results have been reported in the study conducted in Yemen.⁽²⁴⁾

A significant statistical association was found between VKC and HR-QoL among the study population. Another study was conducted to determine the impact of allergic conjunctivitis on HR-QoL in children and their parents. The authors concluded that VKC/AKC had a negative association with HR-QoL, especially among pediatric patients.⁽¹²⁾ In an interview, Yi Ning, J. Strube MD, an associate professor of ophthalmology and pediatrics at Queen's University, Kingston, Canada, highlighted that the children with allergic conjunctivitis reported lower quality of life scores as compared to the children with vision-threatening diseases, such as glaucoma and congenital cataract. The possible reason might be due to the irritating symptoms caused by allergic conjunctivitis.⁽²⁵⁾

This study aimed to assess the quality of multiple aspects of a patient's life. The study findings have shown a considerable decline in the emotional, social, and school functioning of the patients. The results of the previous studies have also depicted a decline in the physical, social, and school functioning of the patients. As pediatric patients spend most of their time in an educational environment, this finding is a matter of concern regarding whether they have poor performance in school. Due to this disease, the decline in the social functioning of the patient can lead to limitations in their daily routine tasks, outdoor playing, interactions with friends, and free time.^(2,26)

VKC in its severe form can lead to moderate to severe visual impairment, and this can have a damaging and detrimental effect on the quality of life of individuals. This study has determined the strong correlation between visual impairment and the HR-QoL score of the patients. In a past study, the QoL in children with visual impairment (VI) was compared with an age-matched comparison group. Children with VI had lower QoL scores. This can have a bad impact on their developmental, cognitive, and educational abilities.⁽²⁷⁾

The findings of this study guide us to redirect the treatment options to a more holistic and proactive approach. Instead of just treating signs and symptoms, psychological burden should also be included with the help of counselors, psychologists or through the aid of school health services, particularly for children.

The strength of this study is that this is the first study conducted in the region of Pakistan that has found the association between VKC and HR-QoL. It highlights the adverse impact of VKC on the different aspects of HR-QoL of not only patients but also their families. Thus, it is challenging for the healthcare providers to deal with the allergic problems along their psychosocial impact by treating disease signs and symptoms while addressing their psychological needs side by side, the negative impact of the VKC on patients’ HR-QoL.

There were certain limitations to this research. Randomized sampling was not done, and the sample size was small due to the short study duration. The age group of the study population did not include the adult patients; only the pediatric age group was considered as the target study population.

This study has highlighted both the clinical and psychosocial impact of vernal keratoconjunctivitis on patients and their families. Male preponderance was observed in the current and previous studies. A significant association of health-related quality of life with the severity of vernal keratoconjunctivitis was found. Social, emotional, and school functioning were the majorly affected domains reported by the patients. A significant association of visual impairment in vernal keratoconjunctivitis with health-related quality of life shows the negative impact of the decline in vision on the patients’ quality of life. To achieve long-term treatment outcomes, it is essential to incorporate regular screenings and quality of life assessments to develop early intervention strategies tailored to each patient's individual needs.