Supratarsal injection of triamcinolone acetonide and childhood allergic keratoconjunctivitis

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of supratarsal injection of triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of refractory allergic keratoconjunctivitis in childhood. Thirty-five patients (70 eyes) with severe allergic keratoconjunctivitis were included in this study. Fifteen patients (42.8%) had atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) and 20 (57.2%) had vernal keratoconjuncivitis (VKC). All patients underwent a bilateral supratarsal injection of 20 mg triamcinolone acetonide. Mean follow-up was 28 months (range 14-38). All patients showed a significant symptomatic improvement and partial resolution of clinical features of keratoconjunctivitis within the first 2 weeks. Corneal complications related to keratoconjunctivitis disappeared in all patients. One patient with VKC experienced ocular hypertension. No patient with AKC showed side-effects. Severe relapse of the disease was noted in 10% of eyes with VKC and in 6.7% of eyes with AKC after a mean follow-up of 9 and 11 months, respectively. Supratarsal injection of triamcinolone acetonide is effective and safe in patients with severe chronic allergic keratoconjunctivits to relieve severe inflammation associated with this disease.