Subscribe to Newsletter
Subspecialties Cornea / Ocular Surface, Pediatric, Health Economics and Policy

VKC: Relief and Hope

At a Glance

  • Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a relatively rare condition affecting mostly children and adolescents, and it is often misdiagnosed
  •  Treatment options for severe VKC were previously limited, with no approved drugs available to deal with the chronic disease
  • Verkazia is a steroid sparing agent that has recently been approved for use in moderate to severe VKC
  • Children suffering from VKC and their carers require counselling to better understand their condition and how to treat effectively.
Most VKC patients are young children or adolescents; the impact of this orphan disease therefore extends into educational and developmental issues.

Most patients with VKC have mild symptoms such as red eye and itchiness; however, we see patients who have not responded to simple treatments by their primary care practioners, or general ophthalmologists. We often find patients presenting to the eye clinic with disabling symptoms and potentially sight-threatening sequelae.Distressingly, most VKC patients are young children or adolescents; the impact of this orphan disease therefore extends into educational and developmental issues. This situation is exacerbated by the diagnostic challenges associated with VKC. Firstly, it’s relatively uncommon, so GPs and pediatricians don’t always think of it when they see a patient. Secondly, its symptoms – red, irritated eyes and a watery discharge – can be confused with blepharoconjunctivitis or even infective conjunctivitis. Indeed, the more subtle features of VKC, such as a papillary rather than a follicular presentation, or itchiness as opposed to foreign body sensation, are easy to miss – particularly given that VKC patients often have a generalized atopic background, including hay fever and asthma. Consequently, many VKC patients end up misdiagnosed with blepharitis.

Orphan diseases get mistreated

Unfortunately, a correct diagnosis of VKC does not mean that the patient’s troubles are over. For example, many clinicians respond to corneal staining with a knee-jerk prescription of topical lubricants – and that’s misguided, because it doesn’t treat the underlying condition. But even if clinicians wish to address the cause of the symptoms, the options are limited: until recently, there have been no approved drugs for long-term management of this chronic allergic condition. That constraint has often forced clinicians to opt for topical steroids – with their long-term side-effects – or off-license formulations of topical calcineurin inhibitors (ciclosporin and tacrolimus). We even had doctors prescribing formulations indicated for veterinary use – which underlined both the poverty of alternatives for VKC management and the pressing need for better therapies. That said, I’m happy to say that the situation is improving – the approval of Verkazia (see Box) for long-term use in severe VKC is most welcome.

Space for more

Verkazia is great news for VKC patients and their clinicians. Even so, it’s just one drug – we need more options for VKC treatment. And this means more companies investing in therapies for children with severe external eye disease. For example, patients with the most severe forms of VKC may need surgery or systemic immunosuppression – topical treatment just won’t work. Other approaches for external eye disease could include immune desensitization. So, when it comes to treating VKC, there are still many gaps in the market! But I’m hopeful for the future; several groups are working on VKC, and it’s particularly encouraging that there is commercial interest in this field.

I’d like to make a couple of points for those who may be reluctant to prescribe a ciclosporin-based drug like Verkazia. It’s true that ciclosporin is a potent anti-inflammatory agent, and I can understand people being wary of applying it in the eye. But the fact is that topical administration of ciclosporin results in negligible systemic absorption – the risk of complications is minimal. Also, remember that topical ciclosporin preparations have been used in the eye for over 30 years now, and have proved to be efficacious, well-tolerated and very safe in this context. So, although Verkazia has only recently come onto the market, it is supported by a significant history of topical ciclosporin use in ocular conditions. Hopefully, clinicians will find that reassuring. And, after all, Verkazia has been through the regulatory process – if that doesn’t give clinicians the confidence to prescribe it, what will?

The holistic approach

Not all VKC patients are the same. A combination of a twice topical mast cell stabilers and oral antihistamines can be used for patients with mild VKC either during the allergy season, or throughout the year.  Nevertheless, where patients have sight-threatening features from the outset, or more than two flare-ups in a year, I’d always prescribe a topical calcineurin inhibitor as a steroid sparing agent. But whatever therapeutic approach we choose, we must remember the broader needs of the patient. Most VKC patients are children – the administration regime of VKC drugs therefore must accommodate the specific needs of this population. In particular, we should think carefully about the drop regime; my approach is to minimize the number of agents and administration frequency. Also, I may start the children on strong topical steroids – especially where they present with a severe flare-up – just to show them that, yes, their condition can be managed with treatment. Once VKC is under control, it can be maintained thus with a drop regime – ideally no more than three times per day, maybe four times daily on the weekend. We have to ensure the patient’s family knows what the treatment requires, and make sure that the treatment schedule can fit around family life.

And that raises a very important point: patient education. Most obviously, given that VKC is a chronic problem, it is critical that patients adhere to the drug regime. That can be difficult when parents are working, children are at school, and so on. It’s vital that clinicians have that discussion with patients and families, because they don’t always appreciate that VKC treatment must continue for years. And there are other, more fundamental, educational needs: patients’ families often think VKC is just ‘itchy red eyes’, and don’t understand the importance of actively managing it. That can turn into a real issue if they have lost faith in the medical system – for example, if they have been prescribed lubricants for months without seeing any improvement.

Escape tunnel

Finally, children and their families need counseling, education and above all support to enable them to fully participate in – and enjoy – normal life. A very important part of this is to persuade them that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Most children grow out of the condition, and if they stay on the treatment, they should escape the VKC years without too much trouble. So we must encourage them to trust the clinician on this treatment journey. We must ensure they understand that it will last several years; above all, we must give them hope! And the clinician’s hope, of course, is that newer and more effective drugs will help our VKC patients escape the worst aspects of their condition until it finally resolves.

Rare treatment for a rare disease

VKC, a rare (orphan) disease, is a chronic allergic condition associated with inflammation of the ocular surface; its troublesome symptoms include intense itching, painful eyes and light sensitivity (1, 2). Most VKC patients are children, in whom the disease can impair normal development and prevent participation in routine activities (3). In these patients above all, VKC requires effective, safe, long-term management – but until recently there were no products approved for this purpose. The consequence? Inadequate treatment, corneal ulcers and even vision loss. Now, however, physicians can adopt a new approach to this rare disease: Verkazia.

Verkazia in outline

  • Ciclosporin emulsion (0.1%; 1 mg/ml) administered as eye-drops
  • Indicated for the treatment of severe VKC in adolescents and in children of four years and above
  • Innovative cationic emulsion formulation – improves absorption of active ingredient
  • Mechanism of action: immunomodulation
  • Unlike other VKC treatments, Verkazia addresses the root cause of ocular surface inflammation, thus modulating the allergic response and associated inflammation (4)
  • Relieves most common symptoms of VKC over a 12-month period: suitable for sustained use, reduces need for steroid-based rescue therapy (4)
  • Clinical outcomes (7, 8):
    • Reduced symptoms of severe VKC by 54 percent versus control (p=0.007) (7)
    • 63 percent reduction in light sensitivity
    • 66 percent reduction in tearing
    • 65 percent reduction in itching
    • 67 percent reduction in discharge
  • Recommended dose: one drop four times per day, per affected eye, 15 minutes after any other eye drops (4)
  • EC approval as orphan drug for ‘severe VKC’: July 2018 (6)
  • Approval by Scottish Medicines Consortium for ‘severe VKC’: December 2018 (4)
  • Note: about one-third of all VKC cases are classified as severe (5)

How do clinicians view this new VKC treatment option? Aravind Reddy, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, stated (6): “The approval of Verkazia is a game changer in Scotland.” No longer does he have to rely on unlicensed treatments to manage VKC patients; furthermore, he noted that Verkazia has the advantage of being free of the side-effects associated with topical steroid use. His conclusion? “I am sure that parents and the healthcare profession are breathing a sigh of relief now that a licensed, effective treatment is available for this distressing disease.” 

Atiya Kenworthy (Medical Affairs, Santen) suggested that the Verkazia approval is a turning point for everyone affected by VKC, and at last provides a sustainable option for control of severe VKC (6). “We have worked hard, and are delighted to put into practice Santen’s commitment to develop innovative eye medicines for real unmet medical needs.”

Receive content, products, events as well as relevant industry updates from The Ophthalmologist and its sponsors.

When you click “Subscribe” we will email you a link, which you must click to verify the email address above and activate your subscription. If you do not receive this email, please contact us at [email protected].
If you wish to unsubscribe, you can update your preferences at any point.

  1. S Kumar, “Vernal keratoconjunctivitis: a major review”, Acta Ophthalmol, 87, 133-147 (2009). PMID: 18786127.
  2. A Leonardi, “Management of vernal keratoconjunctivitis”, Ophthalmol Ther, 2, 73-88 (2013). PMID: 251358
  3. M Sacchetti et al., “Development and testing of quality of life in children with vernal keratoconjunctivitis questionnaire”, Am J Ophthalmol, 144, 557-563 (2007). PMID: 17693381.
  4. Verkazia SmPC. July 2018: www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/9491/smpc
  5. D Bremond-Gignac et al., “Prevalence of vernal keratoconjunctivitis: a rare disease?”, Br J Ophthalmol, 92,1097-1102 (2008). PMID: 18356259.
  6. Santen press release 10 Dec 2018. eyewire.news/articles/santen-announces-scottish-medicines-consortium-approval-of-verkazia-for-severe-vernal-keratoconjunctivitis/
  7. A Leonardi et al., “Topical ciclosporin. A 1mg/mL cationic emulsion in the treatment of active severe vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) in pediatric patients: results of the phase III VEKTIS study”, 2017 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology; May 7-11, 2017; Baltimore, Maryland, USA
  8. Santen, Data on File REF-1606
About the Author
Abdul-Jabbar Ghauri

Consultant Ophthalmologist at The Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust

Related Case Studies
The Missing Piece of the Dry Eye Puzzle

| Contributed by Quidel

Uncovering Ocular Comorbidity

| Contributed by Quidel

Finding Ocular Surface Inflammation

| Contributed by Quidel

Related Product Profiles
Subspecialties Cornea / Ocular Surface
Tear Osmolarity – Empowering. Established. Essential.

| Contributed by TearLab

Subspecialties Cornea / Ocular Surface
Preservative-Free Cyclosporine 0.1% Ophthalmic Emulsion

| Contributed by ImprimisRx

Product Profiles

Access our product directory to see the latest products and services from our industry partners

Here
Register to The Ophthalmologist

Register to access our FREE online portfolio, request the magazine in print and manage your preferences.

You will benefit from:
  • Unlimited access to ALL articles
  • News, interviews & opinions from leading industry experts
  • Receive print (and PDF) copies of The Ophthalmologist magazine

Register

Disclaimer

The Ophthalmologist website is intended solely for the eyes of healthcare professionals. Please confirm below: