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Management of Ocular Surface Allergic Diseases

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Ocular Surface Disease

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Abstract

Allergic eye disease encompasses a spectrum of distinct but overlapping conditions. It includes acute seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC), as well as the chronic conditions of perennial allergic conjunctivitis (PAC), atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC), and vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC). All the allergic eye diseases involve IgE-mediated type I hypersensitivity, leading to varying degrees of itching, redness, and tearing as common ocular surface symptoms in these patients. However, AKC and VKC are distinct from seasonal and perennial allergic disease in that the immune mechanisms in AKC and VKC are much more complex. In both conditions, a T-cell-mediated type IV hypersensitivity response, as well as activation of other inflammatory cytokine pathways, leads to more severe and prolonged conjunctival inflammation, as well as corneal involvement (Foster et al. Ophthalmology 1991;98(8):1190–1196). Here we will discuss several cases of allergic eye disease, including their diagnosis and management, with emphasis on distinguishing among the different types of allergic eye diseases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York, NY, USA

    Jeanie Paik MD & Priti Batta MD

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  1. Jeanie Paik MD
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  2. Priti Batta MD
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Correspondence to Priti Batta MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cornea Service, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Ali R. Djalilian

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Paik, J., Batta, P. (2018). Management of Ocular Surface Allergic Diseases. In: Djalilian, A. (eds) Ocular Surface Disease. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15823-5_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15823-5_7

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