Altered retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in children with allergic conjunctivitis: the Nanjing eye study

BACKGROUND: So far, few data are available on the relationship between allergic conjunctivitis (AC) and ocular fundus. Whether retinal parameters change in patients with AC remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the influence of AC on retinal thickness and vessel density among 7-years-old school-age children. METHODS: This large population-based study is part of the Nanjing Eye Study (NES). Comprehensive examinations including anthropometric parameters, refraction, ocular biometric parameters, intraocular pressure and retinal parameters were conducted on each child. Retinal thickness and vessel density were assessed using the optical coherence tomography angiography. Information on AC was obtained from a comprehensive questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 739 children (mean age ± SD: 7.40 ± 0.29 years) had complete eye examination and questionnaire data we needed. Ninety-four children (12.7%) had AC, among which, 5 children had the history of corticosteroid use and were excluded from the final analysis. Spherical equivalent, axial length, body mass index and birth weight were correlated with retinal parameters. After adjusting for sex, age, spherical equivalent, axial length, body mass index, birth weight and premature history, children with AC had thinner retinal nerve fiber layer thickness for average (117.39 versus 120.97 μm, p = 0.007), temporal (80.73 versus 84.34 μm, p = 0.001), nasal (98.82 versus 102.18 μm, p = 0.049) and inferior (152.68 versus 157.06 μm, p = 0.034) quadrants than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Children with AC tended to have thinner retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. More attention is needed to fundus condition of children with AC. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12886-022-02399-7.