Interplay and severity of nasal and ocular symptoms in allergic rhinitis

Patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) usually present with symptoms such as frequent sneezing, nasal obstruction, a runny nose, and nasal itching. Allergic eye symptoms, such as itchy eyes, epiphora, and redness, might coexist with nasal symptoms, potentially worsening the severity of the condition and impairing quality of life.

This study aimed to assess the frequency and severity of allergic nasal and ocular symptoms in individuals diagnosed with AR.

This cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2024 to March 2025. The study population included 438 adults diagnosed with AR, who exhibited at least two allergic symptoms. The participants were recruited through an ENT clinic and completed a self-administered questionnaire. Symptom severity was measured using a 4-point Likert scale. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between the summed severity of nasal symptoms with that of ocular symptoms.

Of the 438 participants, 86.1% reported at least one allergic ocular symptom. Frequent sneezing (83.3%) and nasal obstruction (80.1%) were the most prevalent nasal symptoms, whereas itchy eyes (76.5%) were the most common ocular symptom. A significant moderate correlation was found between the summed severities of nasal and ocular symptoms (rho = 0.436, P < 0.001).

This study highlights the significant co-occurrence and association between nasal and ocular symptoms in patients with AR. These findings underscore the importance of considering both nasal and ocular symptoms in the clinical management of AR to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.