Ocular symptoms in nonspecific conjunctival hyperreactivity

Conjunctival Provocation Test With Blomia tropicalis

Background: Conjunctival provocation test (CPT) is used to demonstrate clinical relevance to a specific allergen. Blomia tropicalis (Bt) is a prevalent allergen in tropical regions. Its major allergen Blo t 5 is commonly detected in house dust in Brazil. Patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC) have IgE antibodies to Bt although it may not indicate clinical allergy. Objective: The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the role of CPT in clinical allergy to Bt in allergic conjunctivitis (AC). Methods: CPT was performed in asymptomatic subjects with ARC (n = 26) outside the grass pollen season. They had positive skin prick tests (SPT) to Bt and other common inhalant allergens and they were off topical or systemic antihistamines. Standardized allergens were used for CPT (Blo t 5 462.5 ng/mL in 1:1 solution, Alk Abelló). CPT was conducted on a control group of subjects (n = 29) without symptoms of ARC and with negative SPT. CPT was performed with progressive doses of allergen solutions in normal saline (1:32, 1:16, 1:8, 1:4, 1:2). CPT with the same allergen dose that elicited a positive reaction was repeated one week later. The protocol was approved by the local Ethics Board and signed informed consent was obtained from all participants. Results: There were 92% (24/26) of positive CPT in subjects sensitized to Bt. Significant association was found between SPT and CPT results with Bt (p < 0.0001). CPT had 92% sensitivity and 100% specificity when compared to SPT results. Positive reactions with the same dose or one immediately higher occurred in 21 out of 22 subjects who repeated TPC 1 week later. Mild transient nasal symptoms (21/24) were the major side effects of positive CPT followed by moderate periorbital edema which occurred in 41% (10/24). One controlled asthmatic BT-sensitized subject developed wheezing and dyspnea during a positive CPT with Bt that cleared with inhaled albuterol (400 mcg). There were no reactions whatsoever of CPT in non-allergic subjects. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that Bt may cause allergic conjunctivitis in our population. In addition, CPT is a safe and reproducible test if standardized allergens are used.

TFOS DEWS II pathophysiology report

The TFOS DEWS II Pathophysiology Subcommittee reviewed the mechanisms involved in the initiation and perpetuation of dry eye disease. Its central mechanism is evaporative water loss leading to hyperosmolar tissue damage. Research in human disease and in animal models has shown that this, either directly or by inducing inflammation, causes a loss of both epithelial and goblet cells. The consequent decrease in surface wettability leads to early tear film breakup and amplifies hyperosmolarity via a Vicious Circle. Pain in dry eye is caused by tear hyperosmolarity, loss of lubrication, inflammatory mediators and neurosensory factors, while visual symptoms arise from tear and ocular surface irregularity. Increased friction targets damage to the lids and ocular surface, resulting in characteristic punctate epithelial keratitis, superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis, filamentary keratitis, lid parallel conjunctival folds, and lid wiper epitheliopathy. Hybrid dry eye disease, with features of both aqueous deficiency and increased evaporation, is common and efforts should be made to determine the relative contribution of each form to the total picture. To this end, practical methods are needed to measure tear evaporation in the clinic, and similarly, methods are needed to measure osmolarity at the tissue level across the ocular surface, to better determine the severity of dry eye. Areas for future research include the role of genetic mechanisms in non-Sjögren syndrome dry eye, the targeting of the terminal duct in meibomian gland disease and the influence of gaze dynamics and the closed eye state on tear stability and ocular surface inflammation.

Prevalence of ocular symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis: Korean multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is often accompanied by multiple ocular symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of ocular symptoms and the impact of ocular symptoms on the quality of life in patients with AR.

METHODS

One thousand one hundred seventy-four patients with AR were enrolled from 24 centers in Korea. They were classified into four groups according to the Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guideline and also classified into perennial AR (PAR) and seasonal AR groups. All patients were asked to complete the questionnaire regarding the presence of ocular symptoms, such as eye itching, watery eyes, and red eyes. The correlation between ocular symptoms and the rest of the quality-of-life areas in the Mini-Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (Mini-RQLQ) was also asked.

RESULTS

Seven hundred nineteen (61.2%) of 1174 patients had ocular symptoms. In detail, the numbers of patients with eye itching, watery eyes, red eyes, and other ocular symptoms were 605 (51.5%), 313 (26.7%), 207 (17.6%), and 66 (5.6%), respectively. Female patients (72.5%) complained of ocular symptoms more commonly than male patients (55.1%). The patients with moderate-severe persistent AR showed the highest prevalence of ocular symptoms. The correlation coefficients between ocular symptoms and the rest of the quality-of-life areas in the Mini-RQLQ were statistically significant (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Sixty-one percent of Korean AR patients experienced ocular symptoms. The patients who were women and had PAR and more severe AR showed higher prevalence of ocular symptoms. The ocular symptoms might have a significant impact on the quality of life in patients with AR.

Epidemiology of ocular allergy and co-morbidities in adolescents

OBJECTIVE

The prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis (AC) has not been established. Estimates suggest that ocular allergies affect 15% to 20% of the worldwide population, yet most epidemiological studies encompass nasal and ocular allergy symptoms and have not been specific to AC. The aim of this study was to verify the prevalence of ocular allergy symptoms, co-morbidities, and their impact on adolescents.

METHODS

Adolescents were selected from a sample of schools, and completed in classrooms a previously validated questionnaire on symptoms of AC. AC diagnosis was considered when more than three episodes of ocular itching were reported in the past 12 months. Related symptoms such as tearing, photophobia, foreign body sensation, impact on daily activities, and diagnosis of AC were analyzed.

RESULTS

Questionnaires were obtained from 3,120 adolescents (mean age 13.3±1.1 years). Ocular itching in the past 12 months occurred in 1,592 (51%). The most frequently associated symptom was tearing (74%), followed by photophobia (50.1%) and foreign body sensation (37.1%). The prevalence of AC was 20.7%, affecting more females than males (56.1% versus 45.9%; p= 0.01). The risks of an adolescent with ocular allergy to present asthma, rhinitis, and atopic eczema were (OR= 5.7; 95% CI: 4.5 to 7.1), (OR=3.6; 95% CI: 3.0 to 4.3), and (OR=2.6; 95% CI: 2.0 to 3.5), respectively. Severe interference in daily activities was reported by 30.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

Symptoms of ocular allergy are common, frequently associated to other allergic diseases, and impact the daily activities of adolescents.