Conjunctivitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Conjunctivitis, including details on pink eye, symptoms, causes, treatment, medication.

Long-term visual outcome of childhood blepharokeratoconjunctivitis.

Doan S, Gabison EE, Nghiem-Buffet S, Abitbol O, Gatinel D, Hoang-Xuan T

Department of Ophthalmology, Bichat Hospital and Fondation A. de Rothschild, Paris, France. serge.doan@noos.fr

PURPOSE: To assess the visual outcome of childhood blepharokeratoconjunctivitis. DESIGN: Retrospective noncomparative case series. METHODS: We reviewed visual acuity and corneal examination results for 23 patients (mean age 19 +/- 4 years, range, 11 to 26 years) who had healed more than three years previously (up to 15 years). RESULTS: The disease involved 29 eyes and was unilateral in 17 children. Corneal sequelae (neovascularization or scars) involved 18 eyes (62%) of 15 children (65%). Mean best-corrected visual acuity was 20/25 (range, 20/100 to 20/20). Best-corrected visual acuity was no more than 20/30 in seven eyes (24%) of seven children (30%). Fifteen eyes (52%) of 13 children (45%) had astigmatisms of at least 0.75 diopters attributable to corneal scars. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal and visual sequelae are frequent in childhood blepharokeratoconjunctivitis. Early diagnosis and specific treatment are mandatory.

Published 23 February 2007 in Am J Ophthalmol, 143(3): 528-9.
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