OCULAR SYMPTOMS OF CEDAR POLLINOSIS IN OTOLARYNGOLOGY

Abstract

Background: Cedar pollinosis is a disease with various symptoms. Ocular symptoms as well as nasal symptoms appear frequently. However, there are only a few studies examined the incidence rate of ocular symptoms caused by cedar pollinosis. Methods: Subjects consisted of 545 patients who have consulted our hospital and the affiliated hospitals without any previous treatment during the peak season for cedar pollen dispersal from 2009 to 2013. The patients were asked about their symptoms and quality of life (QOL) using the Japanese Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (JRQLQ). Results: Of all the patients, 86% had ocular symptoms. Moreover, itchy eyes had the higher symptom prevalence than watery eyes. The nasal and ocular symptoms were correlated with each other; those patients with ocular symptoms had more severe nasal symptoms. Conclusions: This study showed that nasal symptoms in pollinosis patients with ocular symptoms were more likely to be severe than those in patients without ocular symptoms.