The purpose of this short article is to report the clinical outcomes of topical 0.1% ciclosporin cationic emulsion (CsA-CE) used on label in children with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC).

In this prospective, non-comparative, observational study children affected by active severe VKC were treated for at least 12 months with topical 0.1% CsA-CE. The drug was instilled in both eyes 4 times daily. Data collected from medical charts for the baseline visit (T0) and 1-year follow-up visit (T1) included symptomatic score (0–15), clinical score (0–15), side effects, rescue therapy (need and total number of courses with 0.1% dexamethasone 4 times daily for 5 days), ocular complications and tolerability (visual analog scale [0–100]).

Data from 25 children (20 boys, 5 girls; mean [± standard deviation] age 8.40 ± 2.54 years) were included in the study. Of the 25 patients, 23 (92%) used 0.1% CsA-CE eye drops as per label recommendations, including four patients who had prematurely stopped using topical galenic CsA due to side effects. Symptomatic and clinical scores decreased significantly after treatment, with the mean symptomatic score decreasing from 9.76 ± 1.27 at T0 to 3.80 ± 1.08 at T1, and the mean clinical score decreasing from 9.20 ± 1.32 at T0 to 3.44 ± 1.00 at T1; both P < 0.0001). Five patients (20%) required at least one course of rescue medication (mean 3.4 ± 4.8 courses/year). No patients experienced ocular complications during the study, and treatment tolerability was very high (mean score 89.40 ± 5.46).

Our findings confirm that topical CsA-CE is an effective on-label option for children with VKC in the real-life setting. In our pediatric patient population, CsA-CE provided good clinical outcomes with a limited need for rescue medication, and it was well tolerated by almost all patients, including those who were intolerant to galenic formulations.