Tacrolimus 0.03% Vs Steroids Topical Eye Drops in Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis | ||||
| The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine | ||||
| Article 180, Volume 100, Issue 1, July 2025, Page 3804-3812 PDF (656.65 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejhm.2025.449118 | ||||
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| Abstract | ||||
| Background: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a persistent allergic eye condition that affects children and young adults. This research compares the effectiveness and safety of topical tacrolimus 0.03% to corticosteroids in its therapy. Objective: To compare treatment regimens of tacrolimus and topical steroids for VKC and suggest a treatment protocol according to our clinical experience. Patients and Methods: A prospective randomized comparative clinical study involved 32 eyes of patients diagnosed with active VKC (acute or chronic) needing treatment who attended to Ophthalmology Outpatient Clinic of Menoufia University and Berket Elsabaa Hospitals during March 2024 till March 2025. All studied patients randomly assigned to Group (A) included 16 patients who received Tacrolimus (0.03%) and lubricant topical eye drops (normal saline) and Group (B) included 16 patients who received topical steroids and lubricant eye drops along with cold compression for 6 weeks. Results: grading of symptoms significantly lower frequent among patients who received Tacrolimus (0.03%) and lubricant topical eye drops compared to those patients who received topical steroids after 1, 2, and 4 weeks of treatment (p < 0.05). However, it started to gradually become absent and matched after 6 and 8 weeks of treatment (p=1.00). Grading of conjunctival hyperemia was less common among patients who received Tacrolimus and lubricant topical eye drops compared to those patients who received topical steroids after 1, 2, and 4 weeks of treatment, but the differences between them did not reach significant level (p>0.05), it started to gradually absent and match after 6 and 8 weeks of treatment (p=1.00). Conclusion: Both treatment modalities significantly improved clinical signals and symptoms. However, Tacrolimus showed a more rapid and sustained reduction in symptom scores (TSSS and TOSS) during the early treatment phase (weeks 1–4), particularly in ocular irritation and conjunctival hyperemia, without significantly increasing adverse effects or intraocular pressure. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Eye Drops; Vernal keratoconjunctivitis; Steroids; Topical; symptom scores; Tacrolimus 0.03% | ||||
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