title: Clinical correlations of dry eye syndrome and allergic conjunctivitis in Korean children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinical patterns in pediatric patients with dry eye syndrome and allergic conjunctivitis were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children aged 6 to 15 years with dry eye symptoms were included. Slit-lamp examinations including tear film break-up time, Schirmer's test, and fluorescent staining were performed, and subjective symptoms were investigated. Patients with allergic conjunctivitis were subjected to skin prick tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tear film break-up time was shorter and the number of symptoms related to dry eyes was higher in pediatric patients with allergic conjunctivitis than in those without allergic conjunctivitis. Patients with allergic conjunctivitis who had higher numbers of positive allergens on the skin prick test also had shorter tear film break-up time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because pediatric patients with dry eye syndrome tend to complain less about their symptoms than adult patients, dry eye syndrome is commonly overlooked. This study showed that dry eyes tended to be more severe with the presence of allergic conjunctivitis; the more allergens present, the more severe the dry eyes. More attention should be paid to the treatment of pediatric patients with dry eyes accompanied by allergies.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Tae Hyung
authors: TH
authors: Kim
authors: Nam Ju
authors: NJ
authors: Moon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012882:Skin Tests; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry