HISTOPATHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF CONJUNCTIVAL SCRAPPING – AN OBJECTIVE METHOD TO KNOW THE EFFICACY OF DRUG IN VERNAL KERATO CONJUNCTIVITIS

Aim: The study aims to test the efficiency of FML and Azelastine in the treatment of vernal kerato conjunctivitis by objective method of doing HPE of conjunctival scrapping before and 4 weeks after treatment with these two drugs. Material and method: A double blind randomised study conducted at a tertiary eye care centre in Hyderabad with a study period from July 2004 and July 2005 was done. 100 patients of vernal kerato conjunctivitis were randomly divided in 2 groups of 50 each. Group 1 was given FML eye drops 4 times daily for 4 weeks. Group 2 was given azelastine eye drops 4 times daily for 4 weeks. All patients with VKC were included in the study. Patients with other eye disorders, corneal involvement, glaucoma and patients who received treatment within 1 month were excluded. HPE of conjunctival scrapping’s was done in both groups. Result: At the end of four weeks HPE was repeated 50 patients in group 1 showed absence of eosinophils and mast cells, whereas in group 2 only 15 cases showed absence of eosinophils and mast cells. Observation: Statistic chi square test show P value of 0 in group 1 and 0.3 in group 2 which is significant and proves that FML is superior to azelastine in the treatment of VKC