This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Study: Hay fever, high myopia association remains speculative
The association between hay fever and high myopia was not mediated through corneal steepness or corneal astigmatism, according to results from a large cross-sectional study reported in Eye & Contact Lens.
A total of 5,744 participants at least 12 years old took in an allergy questionnaire, underwent objective refraction and keratometry in both eyes and had immunoglobulin E serology undertaken. The prevalence of hay fever was 12.1% overall.
High myopes had 2.7 times higher odds of hay fever compared to emmetropes, independent of demographics, atopic conditions, IgE serology and keratometry measurements.
Those with hay fever were older, more likely to be white and more likely to have asthma, eczema and elevated total serum IgE.
Among subjects with hay fever, the prevalence of hyperopia, emmetropia and low, moderate and high myopia was 12.2%, 53.7%, 18.2%, 10.0% and 5.9%, respectively, whereas in those without hay fever the prevalence was 12.7%, 59.1%, 16.8%, 8.4% and 3.0%, respectively.
“If additional studies confirm this relationship and reveal mechanisms by which hay fever could directly cause axial, curvature or index myopia, then hay fever can potentially be implicated as a modifiable risk factor for myopia, an important cause of visual impairment worldwide,” researchers wrote. – by Abigail Sutton
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.