Current Knowledge in Allergic Conjunctivitis

Abstract

Allergic conjunctivitis is a disease of increasing prevalence that affects both children and adults and causes significant deterioration of their quality of life and sometimes irreversible visual damage. There are various forms of the disease, some are allergen-induced such as seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis, giant papillary conjunctivitis, and contact allergic blepharoconjunctivitis, whereas others are not always explained by allergen exposure, such as vernal keratoconjunctivitis and atopic keratoconjunctivitis. We review their clinical course, characteristics, and differential diagnosis, and highlight recent advances in their pathophysiology and treatment.

Keywords: Allergic conjunctivitis; allergic keratoconjunctivitis; atopic keratoconjunctivitis; contact blepharoconjunctivitis; ocular allergy; vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

Figure 1

Chemosis in ocular hypersensitivity disorders

Figure 2

Tarsal papillae in vernal keratoconjunctivitis

Figure 3

Atopic blepharokeratoconjunctivitis