Effects of omalizumab on allergic conjunctivitis

To evaluate the effect of subcutaneous omalizumab therapy on the allergic conjunctivitis symptoms of patients being treated for asthma.

A total of 84 eyes of 42 patients who were receiving subcutaneous omalizumab therapy for asthma and complained of allergic conjunctivitis symptoms underwent complete ophthalmic examination. All of the patients were graded according to signs and symptoms and duration of symptoms, evaluated using an ocular severity index (SI) and quality of life questionnaires. Immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and both initial and final %FEV₁ (forced expiratory volume in the first second) values were also evaluated. p values < 0.05 were accepted as statistically significant.

The study included 36 women (85.7%) and 6 men (14.3%) with a mean age of 54.5 ± 10.8 years. The mean duration of omalizumab therapy was 46 ± 30.9 months. There were statistically significant changes between initial and final values for ocular SI, quality of life, subjective symptom frequency and severity and %FEV1. Final values of SI, quality of life, and symptom severity and frequency were statistically significantly lower compared to initial values, while final %FEV₁ was statistically significantly higher compared to initial value (p < 0.001).

Omalizumab therapy for asthma had a favorable effect on the patients' allergic conjunctivitis symptoms and decreased parameters related to ocular disease severity, improved quality of life and increased %FEV₁values.

2019/5-5, Trial Registration Date: 28/03/2019, Retrospectively registered.