Role of Tacrolimus Skin Ointment 0.03% in Severe Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the role of tacrolimus skin ointment (0.03%) in severe vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

Study Design: Interventional study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology KMC Civil Hospital Khairpur Mir’s, Al Ibrahim eye Hospital Malir Karachi PUMHS Nawabshah (SBA) from February, 2020 to February, 2021 for a period of one year.

Materials and Methods: After ERC approval and take informed consent, all sociodemographic variables were gathered from pts:/guardians. The best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was assessed, biomicroscopy, slit lamp was done, and conjunctival/corneal fluorescein staining was performed on all of them. Clinical signs like conjunctival Hyperemia, papillae, trans dots, and SPK were graded as no symptoms represent no any symptoms, mild, moderate, severe means grade 0,1,2 and 3.

Results: A total of 48 cases (48 eyes) were included in the study. The mean age was recorded as 10.75±4.19 years. After starting Tacrolimus skin ointment 0.03%, patients were followed for 1 month. All symptoms improved significantly; itching was the first symptom to be improved. By 1month of treatment, the symptom only included mild redness observed in 3 patients with 93.7% improvement and mild photophobia in 5 patients with 89.5% improvement. Conjunctival hyperemia improved in 40 patients (83.3%). In addition, papillae showed improvement in 39 eyes (81.25%). There was an improvement in Trantas dots in 34 cases 70.8%. SPK improved in 29 (60.4%) cases.

Conclusion: It was concluded that improvement in signs and symptoms was observed and recorded by use of topical tacrolimus skin ointment 0.03% from grade 3 to1 and grade 2 to 0 within 1 month of therapy. No complications were observed during the 1month use of this medicine.