Exploring the Co-occurrence of Allergic Conjunctivitis in Patients Diagnosed with Allergic Rhinitis

Background: Common clinical manifestations of Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) include itching, tearing, and redness of the eyes, collectively referred to as total ocular symptom scores (TOSS). Despite its prevalence, AC often goes undiagnosed in individuals with confirmed allergic rhinitis (AR). This study aimed to determine the incidence of AC in patients diagnosed with AR. Materials and Methods: A randomized observational study was conducted on 145 AR-diagnosed patients. Participants were directly queried about AC symptoms using a standardized screening approach that assessed redness, itching, and tearing of the eyes, quantified by TOSS. Indirect symptoms potentially linked to AC were also evaluated. Results: Of the 145 participants, 51.03% reported AC symptoms upon direct questioning. Additional symptoms such as squinting and excessive blinking were also identified. Treatment with olopatadine significantly reduced TOSS scores within five minutes, with majority of patients showing symptom improvement. This approach uncovered 39.31% of previously undiagnosed AC cases. TOSS-based assessments identified AC in 90.34% of cases, while inclusion of additional symptoms increased diagnostic rates to 95.17%. Allergic dermatitis emerged as a common co-morbidity among AC patients. Conclusion: Standardized screening questions identified only 51.03% of AC cases. Incorporating targeted symptom-specific queries and therapeutic trials for suspected cases can improve the detection of AC, enabling timely treatment and symptom relief.