Eyeworld

20 May 2018 EW NEWS & OPINION by Vanessa Caceres EyeWorld Contributing Writer In a survey of AAAAI members, almost two-thirds said they expect to see increased care for allergic sensitization and symptoms from plant or mold exposure in the next 10–20 years, Dr. Rosario said during his talk. In that survey, 41% thought climate change was moderately rele- vant to direct patient care, and 22% said it affected patient care a great deal. Only 11% thought it did not affect patient care at all. Research completed by Leonard Bielory, MD, professor of medicine, pediatrics, and ophthalmology, Rut- gers University Center for Environ- mental Prediction, New Bruns- wick, New Jersey, also shows that seasonal allergy seasons are getting longer and more intense in many areas. "The longer people are exposed, the more likely they are climate change has led to an in- creased number of patients experi- encing allergy and asthma health effects, said allergist Nelson Augus- to Rosario, MD, Curitiba, Brazil. Dr. Rosario gave a plenary talk on asthma and allergic disorders linked to climate change at the AAAAI annual meeting. Poor air quality in growing urban areas also plays a role in allergy and asthma health effects, he said. Here's why more ocular allergy patients are coming into your office and how to manage them I f you think you're seeing ocular allergy patients more frequently and earlier during your region's typical allergy season, you're not imagining it. At the 2018 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) annual meeting, speakers addressed the growing prevalence of allergy and asthma health prob- lems that in many ways link back to climate change. From increased storms and flooding to wildfires and warmer temperatures, More allergy patients? It's a global thing to be sensitized," he said. "There are incredible changes coming down- stream." "We're not looking at projec- tions. It's real. What's happening is occurring faster than scientists anticipated," said allergist Jeffrey Demain, MD, director, Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Center of Alaska, Anchorage. Dr. Demain has frequently researched climate change and its relation to allergies, with a specific focus on the migra- tion of stinging insects and the in- creasing number of people affected by infectious disease spread by those insects. Stinging insects continue to migrate further north with climate change, he explained. This is leading to an increase in certain infectious diseases. Although studies on climate change and allergy increases have focused more on respiratory and nasal symptoms, it's reasonable to assume ocular effects, Dr. Demain said. "Allergic nasal manifestations are going to be accompanied by ocu- lar manifestations," he said. "The allergy community must adapt by anticipating the needs of patients and adopting practices to help them," Dr. Rosario said. He characterized climate change as a collective action problem at the global scale and described "global warming" as a "global warning." For those who may be skepti- cal of climate change, the idea that many people are less exposed nowa- days to a variety of microbes—often described as the "hygiene hypothe- sis"—is thought to contribute to the rise in the number of patients with asthma and allergy, including food allergy. The bottom line is that allergies are increasing around the world. Although many impli- cations of a growing allergy season fall on the shoulders of allergists, ophthalmolo- gists also have a role. With the prevalence of aller- gic conjunctivitis—eye symptoms can be more prevalent than nasal symptoms at times—

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