Clinical characteristics of 745 cases of allergic conjunctivitis

Background Allergic conjunctivitis is common in clinical practice.But some patients, especially pediatric patients, are not diagnosed and treated correctly because of different classifications and other associated symptoms.A comprehensive understanding of the clinical characteristics of allergic conjunctivitis helps to correct diagnosis and management. Objective This study tried to analyze the clinical characteristics of allergic conjunctivitis. Methods A descriptive study was carried out.The clinical data of 745 cases of various classifications of allergic conjunctivitis who received treatment in Beijing Tongren Eye Center from April 2011 to March 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.The general status, disease history, family medical history, personal allergy history, medication history, disease course, attacked duration, affecting factors of symptoms, other non-ocular allergic diseases, other associated eye disease, the findings of the anterior ocular segment, treating outcomes were summarized, and the correlation of age with symptoms was evaluated. Results In the 745 cases, 75.44% cases (562/745) were seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) and perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC), 21.88% cases (163/745) were vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC), 2.42% cases (18/745) were giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC), and 0.27% cases (2/745) were atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC). The number of patients was most in July (180, 24.16%) and least in December (26, 3.49%). The itching was found in 53.02% patients, redness in 36.64% patients, blinking in 21.88% patients.In the patients, 58.26% patients were ≤14 years, 34.09% patients were 15-39 years and 7.65% patients were ≥40 years, and a significant difference in gender was found in various age groups (χ2=89.431, P=0.000). The co-morbidities appeared to be allergic rhinitis, eczema, urticaria, allergic purpura and asthma, and the ocular coexisting conditions included dry eye, refractive error, blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction, corneal epithelial disorders, trichiasis and anterior uveitis.Logistic regression analysis revealed that blinking patients were more and dry eye, foreign body sensation and pain were less in ≤14 years patients than those in the >14 patiens (β=-2.039, P=0.000; β=1.585, P=0.001; β=1.174, P=0.003; β=1.218, P=0.037). The symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis were relieved by the administration of dual-acting antiallergic agent/antihistamine drug, glucocorticoid or immunosuppressor agents. Conclusions SAC and PAC are more common classifications of allergic conjunctivitis, followed by VKC.July is a high-occurrence duration and clinical symptoms are diverse and often accompanied by other allergic diseases.The administration of dual-acting antiallergic agent/antihistamine drug, glucocorticoid or immunosuppressor agents is an effective approach to the management of allergic conjunctivitis. Key words: Conjunctivitis; Allergy; Retrospective study