title: Allergic conjunctivitis: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ocular allergy is a common disease in daily practice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate clinical aspects of and therapeutic approaches to ocular allergy in Italy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of the 3685 patients affected by ocular allergy and enrolled by 304 ophthalmologists nationally, 3545 were eligible to be included in the statistical analysis. A questionnaire was administered in office to record demographic data, comorbidities, trigger factors, number of conjunctivitis episodes, and past treatments. Signs and symptoms were graded according to their severity, frequency, and duration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age of enrolled patients was 38 ± 19 years. Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (55% of patients) was equally distributed among the different age groups, while perennial allergic conjunctivitis (18%) increased with age and vernal keratoconjunctivitis (9%) was more frequent under the age of 18. Itching and redness were reported in 90% and 85%, respectively; lid skin involvement was observed in 22% of cases and keratitis in 11%. Pollen sensitivities were indicated as the most frequent triggers; however, exposure to non-specific environmental conditions, pollutants, and cigarette smoke was frequently reported. Only 35% of patients underwent a diagnostic evaluation of specific allergic sensitization, with positive allergy tests found in 82% of this subset. With regard to treatment, topical decongestants were used in 43% of patients, corticosteroids in 41%, antihistamines in 29%, systemic antihistamines in 27%, and mast cell stabilizers in 15%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey provided useful epidemiological information regarding the clinical characteristics and treatment options of a large cohort of patients affected by different forms of ocular allergy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An understanding of ocular allergic disease, its incidence, demographics, and treatment paradigms provides important information towards understanding its pharmacoeconomics and burden on the national health system.
authors: Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Leonardi
authors: Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Piliego
authors: Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Castegnaro
authors: Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Lazzarini
authors: Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: La Gloria Valerio
authors: Medical Service, Alfa Wassermann, Bologna, Italy.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Mattana
authors: Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Fregona
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: allergic conjunctivitis; questionnaire; signs and symptoms; survey; treatment