CENTRAL CORNEAL THICKNESS IN PATIENTS WITH VERNAL KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS

Background: The present study was conducted to evaluate the central corneal thickness in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC). Material and Method: The study was conducted in Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College Srinagar Jammu & Kashmir, India between October 2016 and January 2018. The study group included 424 eyes of 212 patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis and 424 eyes of 212 age and sex matched normal subjects were selected as a control group. The central corneal thickness was measured with TOPCON SP-3000(USA). Result: In the study group,out of 212 patients, 145 were males and 67 were females. Majority were in the age group of 5-10 years. The mean central corneal thickness was 495.9?30.7?m in the study group and 540.30?38.91 μm in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: The central corneal thickness in patients with Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is low as compared to age and sex matched control population.Evaluation of corneal thickness is important in situations such as corneal refractive surgery and contact lens use, and is an essential parameter in a wide range of ocular disorders, including glaucoma and keratoco?nus. Therefore, ophthalmologists should be aware of the low central corneal thickness in patients with Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis.