Abstract
Introduction We first examined the association of an ocular refractive error with allergic conjunctivitis in school children and then examined this association in children attending a suburban school and an urban school. Methods We enrolled 426 children attending a primary school in a suburban area and 550 children attending a primary school in an urban area which had a higher level of air pollution. Allergic conjunctivitis was defined as the diagnosis of this condition at any time during a child's life. The ophthalmic examinations included measurements of visual acuity and refraction, and a slit lamp examination. Skin prick tests were also performed at each school during 2018. The significance of associations was determined by the calculation of odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Astigmatism (increase of 1 cylindrical diopter) was associated with allergic conjunctivitis in children overall (OR = 1.287, 95% CI = 1.010 to 1.642) and in children attending the urban school (OR = 1.408, 95% CI = 1.029 to 1.926), but not in children attending the suburban school (OR = 1.040, 95% CI = 0.672 to 1.610). Allergic conjunctivitis also had a higher prevalence among children attending the urban school. The urban school had higher levels of air pollutants than the suburban school. Skin prick tests indicated that the major allergens in children with allergic conjunctivitis were house dust mites and various types of pollen. Conclusion Astigmatism is associated with allergic conjunctivitis in children attending an urban school.
Highlights
We first examined the association of an ocular refractive error with allergic conjunctivitis in school children and examined this association in children attending a suburban school and an urban school
Skin prick tests were performed at each school during 2018. e significance of associations was determined by the calculation of odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs)
Air pollution in the Ulsan metropolitan region (UMR) is mainly due to emissions from urban vehicles and industrial facilities. us, there are higher levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), largely emitted from the petrochemical complex, in the industrial areas (see Figure 1(a)). e air pollution in areas close to industrial complexes is significantly higher than in other areas of the UMR, and the level of air pollution changes seasonally due to changes in wind [17,18]
Summary
Allergic conjunctivitis is a very common ophthalmic condition that causes various ocular disorders, such as itching, burning sensations, hyperemia, and tearing on the ocular surface, that can interfere with social activities [1]. Refractive errors, such as myopia and astigmatism, are becoming serious public health problems in school-aged children and are major causes of poor quality of life [2]. Little is known about the association of SAC and PAC with refractive errors in children, such as myopia and astigmatism. We first examined the association of refractive error with allergic conjunctivitis in children. en, we compared children attending a suburban school with those attending an urban school which had a higher level of air pollution
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