Vasomotor (perennial chronic) conjunctivitis.
OBJECTIVE
To increase the awareness of nonimmunoglobulin E-mediated conjunctival disorders similar to those recognized to affect other organs that are targets in immunoglobulin E-mediated disorders. Such conditions may include 'vasomotor' instability, that is vasomotor conjunctivitis, which leads to a more common perennial chronic conjunctivitis. These conditions are not commonly included in the differential diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis.


RESULTS
Although there have not been specific recent findings regarding the eye, it appears that evidence for such disorders in the rhinitis literature suggests that they can be involved in more than 25% of chronic conjunctivitis cases. The extrapolation of such conditions to the conjunctival surface clearly reflects these syndromes which have clearly been underappreciated and underdiagnosed.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant amount of work remains to be performed to understand perennial chronic conjunctivitis (vasomotor conjunctivitis or nonallergic noninfectious conjunctivitis) as well as other forms of chronic conjunctivitis that can mimic or exist in a comorbid state with ocular allergy. These disorders need to be better defined, categorized and classified to determine the best treatment modalities. Management guidelines and parameters of chronic noninfectious conjunctivitis need to be set on a national and international basis that will advance clinically applicable research results, pharmaceutical development and relief for patients.
Bielory
Leonard
L
Clinical Research and Development, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, USA. bielory@umdnj.edu
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D014666:Vasomotor System
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents