Supratarsal injection of corticosteroids in the treatment of refractory vernal keratoconjunctivitis.
OBJECTIVE
To study and compare the efficacy of supratarsal injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, triamcinolone acetonide and hydrocortisone sodium succinate in treating refractory vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC).


METHODS
Prospective randomized, double-masked, case control trial, including 90 eyes of 45 patients with refractory VKC. Both eyes of each patient were randomly assigned to receive supratarsal injection of one of three compounds under study: dexamethasone sodium phosphate (2 mg), triamcinolone acetonide (10.5 mg), and hydrocortisone sodium succinate (50 mg).


RESULTS
All the three drugs were equally effective with no statistically significant difference in the time of resolution of cobblestone papillae, lid oedema, conjunctival discharge and chemosis, Tranta's dots and shield ulcers. There was no statistically significant difference in the severity and rate of recurrence of disease following supratarsal injection of all the three drugs. But recurrence of disease to same severity was seen within 6 months of injection in all cases irrespective of compounds used.


CONCLUSIONS
Supratarsal injection of corticosteroids is very effective for temporary suppression of severe inflammation associated with VKC.
Singh
S
S
Department of Ophthalmology, Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak, India.
Pal
V
V
Dhull
C S
CS
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005143:Eyelids; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D007267:Injections; D012008:Recurrence; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; C004180:dexamethasone 21-phosphate; D003907:Dexamethasone; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide; C007133:hydrocortisone hemisuccinate; D006854:Hydrocortisone