Treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis with diclofenac sodium eye drops 0.1%

ABSTRACT

Twenty seven patients having bilateral active vernal keratoconjunctivitis [VKC] 5 mild [all palpebral], 14 moderate [9 palpebral and 5 mixed] and 5 severe [all mixed] were treated with a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops [Diclofenac Sodium 0.1%] for 4 weeks. Two patients did not complete treatment. All symptoms disappeared in mild cases except itching in one patient. Total score of foreign-body sensation was markedly reduced in moderate and severe cases [92% and 75% respectively], while total score of photophobia showed the least decrease in both groups [63.6% and 58.33% respectively]. Conjunctival hyperaemia and discharge disappeared in all mild cases with treatment. The greatest decrease in total score of clinical signs was in conjunctival hyperaemia for moderate cases [90.9%] and in conjunctival discharge for severe cases [70%]. While the least decrease was in superficial punctate keratitis [SPK] [46.6% and 33.33% in moderate and severe cases respectively]. In all cases tarsal papillae did not disappear but became less hyperaemic and slightly smaller in size. Diclofenac Sodium eye drops 0.1% could be considered an additional tool in treatment of VKC as it showed efficacy in managing most of symptoms and signs. Its action is similar to systemic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDS] without having their side effects