Allergic conjunctivitis: a national cross-sectional study of clinical characteristics and quality of life.

Purpose: Ocular allergy is one of the most common ocular problems in clinical practice and, although easily identified and frequently a mild to moderate condition, it has relevant direct and indirect costs. To characterize clinical and demographic aspects of allergic conjunctivitis in Portugal, using a structured questionnaire. As a secondary outcome, patient's initial therapeutic and health care options, self-perception of health, and work/school absenteeism were also evaluated.

Methods: A cross-sectional study, in 16 ophthalmology departments of central or regional hospitals, in patients diagnosed with allergic conjunctivitis during the spring of 2006.

Results: A total of 220 patients were enrolled (mean age of 31.4+/-18.5 years). A quarter of these patients had >5 episodes of ocular allergy in the past year, 59.3% all year-round episodes, and most presented associated comorbidities (allergic rhinitis 45.9%, asthma 15.5%). They had significant impairment of their overall quality of life during an acute episode (45.6% > or =6 in a 10-point severity scale). Only 19.4% had an appointment with an ophthalmologist as a first action and most (56.1%) started with self treatment measures. Only 37.2% had a previous allergy diagnostic evaluation.

Conclusions: In this cross-sectional study of allergic conjunctivitis patients seen in ophthalmology departments, we found a significant impairment of self-rated health status during an ocular allergy episode. Moreover, most patients had year-round episodes and started ocular allergy management with self treatment measures.