title: Ocular allergies.
abstract: Ocular allergic disease affects not only the conjunctivae but also surrounding structures including the eyelids. Allergic diseases of the eyelid include atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, and urticaria/angioedema. They must be differentiated from nonallergic eyelid diseases. Allergic diseases of the conjunctivae comprise a spectrum of disorders from common, non-sight-threatening conditions such as seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, perennial allergic conjunctivitis, and giant papillary conjunctivitis to less common and potentially sight-threatening diseases such as vernal keratoconjunctivitis and atopic keratoconjunctivitis. Each of these conditions is mediated primarily by type I hypersensitivity reactions. The clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis, and treatment of these conditions are reviewed in this article.
authors.affiliation: SUNY at Stony Brook, Winthrop-University Hospital, 222 Station Plaza North, Suite 430, Mineola, NY 11501, USA. lfonmd@aol.com
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fonacier
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luchs
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Udell
mesh_terms: D000799:Angioedema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D007637:Keratoconjunctivitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D014581:Urticaria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy