Purpose:
To report a young child with bilateral keratoconus in the context of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) who developed bilateral corneal hydrops associated with eye rubbing, and to discuss the pathogenesis and review the pertinent literature.
Case report:
A seven-year-old girl with VKC and asymmetric keratoconus developed corneal hydrops due to habitual eye rubbing. Corneal edema subsided within 16 weeks in her right eye and 9 weeks in the left eye with subsequent corneal scarring.
Conclusion:
Continuous mechanical trauma, such as eye rubbing, plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of keratoconus and subsequent hydrops even in childhood.