Abstract
Purpose :
We conducted a survey to assess the impact of ocular allergy on quality of life from a patient's perspective.
Methods :
Subjects from an ocular allergy clinical trial database who agreed to participate in a clinical trial were asked to participate in this IRB-approved questionnaire. Sixty four subjects completed questionnaires and were included in the survey analysis. Subjects provided information on their disease characteristics, treatment strategies, and satisfaction with their current therapeutic regimes.
Results :
The mean age of respondents was 50.4 years (70% female). Nearly all (98%) reported experiencing nasal as well as ocular allergy symptoms, while smaller percentages stated that they also suffered from food (17%), skin (30%), and drug (10%) allergies. As a group, the respondents reflect recent national trends: 47% experience ocular allergic symptoms year-round. The second-most reported complaint (after ocular itching) among all subjects was excessive tearing or watery eyes, not ocular redness. A majority of patients (74%) reported not seeking treatments for their allergies from a physician. Half of those who do seek treatments use prescription eye drops as a treatment. While 61% had reported that they tried over-the-counter medications, 90% stated that these products were effective “some or none of the time”. Subjects reported preferring a treatment that could relieve both itch and redness, and 41% of all respondents reported also experiencing some degree of dry eye.
Conclusions :
This survey confirms that our study population accurately reflects national and global trends regarding incidence of perennial and seasonal allergic disease1, and highlights the need for improved treatments for those with year-round allergies. We find that an overwhelming majority of subjects experience both ocular and nasal symptoms, and many suffer with additional allergic symptoms. The survey results highlight the importance of encouraging patients to take advantage of existing therapeutic options that are likely to improve their quality of life.
1. Rosario N. Epidemiology of allergic conjunctivitis. Curr.Opin. Allergy Clin. Immun . 2011; 11:471–476.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.