Clinical And Cytological Findings Of Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency In Vernal Keratoconjuctivitis Patients: A Prospective Study In North Indian Population

This prospective comparative study evaluates limbal involvement and limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC). VKC is a chronic allergic inflammatory disorder affecting the ocular surface, primarily in children and young adults, often leading to corneal damage and visual impairment. The study will be conducted over 8 months and includes 96 eyes—46 with clinically diagnosed LSCD as cases and 46 without LSCD as controls. Diagnosis will be confirmed using clinical signs and impression cytology. Clinical findings such as limbal pigmentation, corneal conjunctivalization, and loss of palisades of Vogt and cytology showing increased goblet cells at corneal surface, squamous cell metaplasia and inflammatory cells helps in  diagnosing LSCD. The study aims to correlate clinical and cytological findings in VKC, helping in early diagnosis, severity assessment, and guiding management to prevent long-term complications.