Ocular complications of atopic dermatitis in children

Ocular complications of atopic dermatitis in adults are blepharitis, keratoconjunctivitis, keratoconus, uveitis, subcapsular cataract and retinal detachment. Their frequency varies from 25% to 50%. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and type of ophthalmological complications in children with atopic dermatitis. The secondary objectives of the study were to determine whether there is a correlation between severity of atopic dermatitis, face involvement, external ocular signs and the presence of ocular complications, and to identify risk factors for ophthalmological complications. Thirty-seven boys and 22 girls, mean age 36.2 months, with atopic dermatitis were examined. Atopic dermatitis severity was mild according to the SCORAD index (31.6 +/- 17.0). Fifteen (25.4%) children had external ocular signs, one had a nuclear cataract, 11 had benign papillofollicular conjunctivitis, one had purulent bacterial conjunctivitis, one had chronic atopic blepharitis and one had amblyopia. Severity of atopic dermatitis, face involvement, and external ocular signs did not seem to influence the incidence of ocular involvement. This study suggests that severe ocular complications are rare in young children with mild atopic dermatitis.