Total IgE in tears accurately reflects the severity and predicts the prognosis of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis

Background Although immunoglobulin E (IgE) increases significantly in tears and serum during seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC), it is unclear whether tear total IgE can reflect the severity and prognosis of SAC more accurately than serum total IgE. We aimed to investigate the usefulness of measuring the total IgE in tears to evaluate the severity and determine the treatment of SAC. Methods This prospective, nonrandomized study involved 55 patients with SAC and 10 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Serum and tears were collected before and after treatment to analyze the total IgE. SAC patients received the same topical anti-allergy treatment and were followed-up every 2 weeks for 1 month. The relationship of tear and serum total IgE concentrations with pollen concentrations and symptom severity before and after treatment was assessed. Results The total IgE concentration in tears was higher in SAC patients than in healthy participants with significant correlations between tear and serum total IgE concentrations. The total IgE concentration in tears, but not in serum, correlated with the pollen concentration and severity of ocular symptoms and reactions in SAC. Treatment-associated improvements in symptoms and reactions in SAC correlated with decreased concentrations of the tear total IgE. Patients with disease recurrence following treatment demonstrated significantly higher tear total IgE concentrations than patients with no recurrence. Conclusion The total tear IgE level can indicate the severity and predict the prognosis of SAC more accurately than the serum total IgE.