A 27-year-old female reported to the office with a chief complaint of red, itchy eyes for three months. She explained that she had been placed on Pataday QD PRN by her internal medicine doctor, but did not acheive sustained relief. 

Her ocular history was non-contributory. Her systemic disease history was positive for rheumatoid arthritis, for which she medicated with Enbrel (etanercept, Immunex) 50mg/week IM. She denied allergies to medications and foods. 

Diagnostic Data 
Her best-corrected entering visual acuities were 20/15 OU at distance and near. Her external examination was normal with no evidence of afferent pupillary defect. The pertinent biomicroscopic examination of the anterior segment is demonstrated in the photograph. Goldmann applanation tonometry measured 14mm Hg OU. The dilated fundus examination revealed no peripheral pathologies in either eye.

Your Diagnosis
Does this case require any additional tests? What is your diagnosis? How would you manage this patient? What’s the likely prognosis? 

Discussion
The diagnosis in this issue is vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) or atopic keratoconjunctivits AKC) with Horner’s-trantas dots. Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) or atopic keratoconjunctivits AKC) is a chronic mast cell/lymphocyte-mediated allergic inflammatory process of the conjunctiva.1 Clinical symptoms often present as a conjunctival hyperemia, tearing and itching. Photophobia can be often present in severe cases.2




A 27-year-old female patient who was previously diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis presented with a chief complaint of itchy eyes for three months. Can you identify the underlying cause?

VKC is more prevalent in young males, however, cases that arise later in life are equally distributed amongst sexes.1 VKC is a chronic allergic inflammatory reaction mediated by Th2-lymphocytes. There is an overexpression of eosinophils, eosinophilic proteins, growth factors and cytokines.1-5 The reaction is provoked by the warmer seasons of dry, hot climates. 

There are three clinical forms of VKC:

  1. The palpebral form with giant papillae on tarsal conjunctiva,
  2. The limbal form with Horner’s-trantas dots (clumps of necrotic eosinophils, neutrophils and epithelial cells-the active form and
  3. A mixed form combining the two described before.1,6,7 

Research suggests there is evidence supporting associations between familys that have a history of immunological disorders and higher order ocular signs and symptoms.2

Atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) is another form of ocular chronic allergic inflammatory process which involves the conjunctiva of the eye and eyelid.4 AKC is mediated by Th1- along with Th2-lymphocytes.4 While Th2-lymphocyte is an important mediator in the allergic response, it is the Th1- lymphocytes that have been shown to maintain the low level chronic inflammatory response in these allergic diseases.4

AKC is associated with familial history of eczema and asthma.1 This type of allergic keratoconjunctivitis is more prevalent in individuals over age of 50, however, younger patients are also susceptible.1 AKC is not particulary associated with seasonal changes or climate provocation. AKC ocular clinical findings vary but also include eye lid chemosis and Horner’s-trantas dots.  

VKC and AKC can be seen as overlapping, however, the potential for morbidity is greater in untreated cases of AKC. VKC typically resolves by age of 20 while AKC can persist throughout life.3 In both instances, chronic eye rubbing has the potential to induce keratoconus.10

In its most tacit forms VKC/AKC is a seasonal nuisance disease. It can be treated easily with palliative methods (tears, cold compresses, lubricants) and mild topical anti-allergy medications (topical vasoconstrictors, topical antihistamine/mast cell stabilizers). Oral non-sedating antihistamines can be used to concurrently manage accompanying non-ocular and adnexal symptoms.8 When possible the patient should be instructed to avoid the environmental and chemical agents that are known to provoke the process. 

It its worst forms VKC/AKC can induce chronic debilitating symptoms along with tissue destruction capable of permanently affecting function.1-7 Topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAID) QID-QD can also be used to mitigate signs and symptoms.9 Here, dosage and length of use must be monitored. Documented cases of keratolysis (corneal melting) have been reported in the literature associated with increased frequency of administration and extended use.10,11 Since the pathology of AKC involves inflammation, topical corticosteroids may be required to suppress an aggressive inflammatory response. Prednisolone acetate 1% and difluprednate emulsion are topical ophthalmic steroids that can be prescribed for chronic forms of the disorder. While they are effective agents, both are known for their propensity to raise intraocular pressure with protracted use (difluprednate two to three weeks, prednisolone acetate four to six weeks). Loteprednol etabonate 0.5% is a less potent topical steroid with a reputation for having less risk for raising IOP. It should be considered as an option for patients who require long-term corticosteroid therapy.12,13 The dosing of topical steroids should vary depending on the individual case; QID-Q2H for severe cases, with BID-QD dosing for cases requiring maintenance. In cases demonstrating raised IOP where the topical therapy must be continued, aqueous suppressants can be added. Here, because of their slow speed of onset and reputation for upregulating anterior segment inflammation, the topical prostaglandin medications should be avoided. Finally, topical steroids used for less than two weeks generally can be discontinued without tapering.

In the cases that evolve into painful events with iritis or cases inducing the formation of corneal shield ulcer, topical cycloplegia and broad-spectrum antibiotic prophylaxis should be added.1-7 In these instances, some prefer the convenience of a combination antibiotic/corticosteroid. Others keep the agents separate so that the fluorinated quinolone antibiotics are available and so that as the condition resolves, the antibiotic can be stopped while the topical steroid continued.   

Patients who are inadequately controlled with topical corticosteroids or those who experience negative sequelae warranting discontinuation of steroids may require topical or systemic immunomodulatory therapy (oral, sublingual or subcutaneous routes).14-20 Topical cyclosporine may be an effective alternative in this situation; it has been shown to specifically inhibit T-lymphocyte proliferation while imparting direct inhibitory effects on eosinophil and mast-cell activation.14,15 Early research using 2% cyclosporine in maize oil demonstrated a distinct benefit16; however, clinical studies involving 0.05% cyclosporine emulsion have shown mixed results.14-19 Oral steroids are only considered in non-responsive situations.

Atopic dermatitis involving the lids, in addition to palliative treatments and oral antihistimines may require corticosteroid creams or ointments. Options include over the counter Cortizone-10 (hydrocortisone 1%, Sanofi), fluorometholone ointment, 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide or 0.05% clobetasone butyrate. The immediate satisfaction topical steroid preparations can produce encourages patients to use them liberally or without consulting a professional. This relapsing behavior by the patient is sometimes known as “topical steroid addiction.” Since topical steroids can raise IOP and thin the dermis patients must be educated that unapproved use is not a sound strategy. In lieu of steroids, Protopic (topical 0.1% tacrolimus ointment, Astellas Pharma) has demonstrated equivalent safety and efficacy in a head-to-head clinical study.20,21

Some literature suggests the development of cataracts due to chronic corticosteroid therapy of AKC.5

Dr. Gurwood thanks Dr. Inna Krasiy her contributions to this case.

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