title: Perilimbal conjunctival pigmentation in Chinese patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document the disease spectrum and evaluate the presence of perilimbal conjunctival pigmentation in Chinese patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was conducted between November 2004 and July 2005. Patients aged 18 or younger with VKC and age-matched children attending our eye clinic for refractive or orthoptic problems were recruited and compared. Detailed slit-lamp examination was performed noting in particular the presence of perilimbal conjunctival pigmentation, the severity of papillary reaction, and corneal complications of VKC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 19 patients and 23 controls were evaluated. The presence of bilateral large tarsal or limbal papillae and epithelial defect were significantly associated with symptoms severity (Fisher's exact test, P=0.015 and P=0.035 respectively). All VKC patients were found to have perilimbal conjunctival pigmentation in at least one eye. There was a significant correlation in the colour and density of pigments between the two eyes (Sperman's rho=0.93, P<0.001). None of the controls was found to have such perilimbal conjunctival pigmentation (Fisher's exact test, P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of perilimbal conjunctival pigmentation appears to be a consistent clinical finding in Chinese patients with VKC and may be a useful diagnostic sign for patients with subtle signs or symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: F O J
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Luk
authors.forename: V W Y
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: D S C
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male