Search

Purpose: To compare the effect of topical steroid with cyclosporine eye drops in recurrence of sub-epithelial corneal infiltrates in epidemic keratoconjunctivitis. Study Design: Quasi Experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: CMH Kharian from Jan 2017 to June 2018. Methods: Eighty eight patients with epidemic keratoconjunctivitis were divided into two groups. Group A included patients who received topical steroid drops and group B received topical Cyclosporine eye drops. The inclusion criteria comprised of fresh cases of SEIs, between the ages of 20 to 50 years, having a vision of 6/6 before the illness. The exclusion criteria included patients suffering from allergic conjunctivitis, ocular surface disease like Sjogren syndrome, corneal ulcer, blepharitis, old corneal opacity, glaucoma and those who had been using steroids in the past e.g. uveitis. The patients were followed up at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. On resolution of sub-epithelial infiltrates (SEIs), both regimen were tapered off in next two weeks. The patients were advised to continue monthly follow up for two months to see any recurrence. Results: SEIs resolved in both the groups by week 12, however the resolution was slightly quicker in group A. SEIs resolved in 84.1% of cases in group A and in 70.4% cases in group B at the end of 4 weeks. Recurrence was higher in group A (11.3%) while it was 4.5% in group B. Conclusion: Cyclosporine eye drops are a safe and equally effective treatment of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis related SEIs, with an added advantage of reduced recurrence rate. Key Words: Epidemic, Keratoconjunctivitis (EKC), Cornea, Subepithelial Infiltrates, Cyclosporine.