Relationship between myopia and allergen-specific serum IgE levels in patients with allergic conjunctivitis

Abstract

Purpose: Various exogenous allergens can cause allergic conjunctivitis, whereas refractive errors are also related (as an endogenous factor) to the pathogenesis of allergic conjunctivitis. However, little is known about the interaction between exogenous and endogenous factors in patients with allergic conjunctivitis. We investigated the relationship between refractive errors and exogenous allergens in patients with allergic conjunctivitis. Methods: Sixty patients with allergic conjunctivitis and 60 healthy subjects (non-allergy patients) were enrolled. Refraction was carried out in all subjects. In addition, total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and specific IgE levels for 12 inhaled allergens were measured by the capsulated hydrolic carrier polymer system. Results: The patients who were positive for-specific IgE to indoor allergens had higher myopia than those who were negative, including those positive for house dust IgE (-3.66 ± 2.95 vs. -1.05 ± 3.39, P = 0.0015), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D. pteronyssinus) IgE (-3.50 ± 2.91 vs. -1.01 ± 3.46, P = 0.0021), and acarus IgE (-3.45 ± 2.21 vs. -1.51 ± 3.73, P = 0.0087), whereas antibody-positive and antibody-negative patients for outdoor allergens showed no significant differences of refraction. Refractions in indoor group (-3.58 ± 3.42) and indoor/outdoor (-3.70 ± 2.64) group were higher than those in outdoor group (-0.84 ± 2.30, P = 0.0047 and P = 0.0032) and the non-allergy group (-1.30 ± 1.48, P = 0.0082 and P = 0.0054) [-refraction] was significantly correlated with total IgE (r = 0.333, P = 0.0093), house dust (r = 0.355, P = 0.0054) and D. pteronyssinus (r = 0.379, P = 0.0028), while no correlation between refractive error and outdoor allergens was proven. Conclusion: These results suggest that specific IgE levels for indoor allergens, such as house dust, might be associated with refractive errors. © 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2009 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists.