title: Contact allergic reactions on the eyes and eyelids.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the most important causes of contact allergic reactions on the eyes and eyelids.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study provides an analysis of patch-test results obtained in a population of 1554 patients suffering from conjunctivitis and/or dermatitis on the eyelids, out of a total population of 9035 patients investigated for contact allergy between January 1990 and October 2003. If indicated, also prick testing with a latex extract was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  864 (56%) of the patients with eye- and/or eyelid-involvement presented with a positive reaction to at least one of the contact allergens tested. The main sensitisation sources were topical pharmaceutical products (antibiotics, corticosteroids), cosmetics (fragrance components, preservatives, emulsifiers, hair-care and nail products), metals (nickel), rubber derivatives, resins (e.g. epoxy resin), and plants. Also latex-allergy (immediate-type sensitivity presenting as a contact-urticaria syndrome) was a frequent finding in such patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contact allergy is a common cause of eyelid dermatitis in particular and the allergens may reach the skin in many different ways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital K. U. Leuven, Belgium. an.goossens@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goossens
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000145:classification; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens