title: Ocular allergy Latin American consensus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish current definition, classification and staging, and to develop diagnosis and treatment recommendations for ocular allergy, by using Delphi approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten Latin American experts on ocular allergy participated in a 4-round Delphi panel approach. Four surveys were constructed and answered by panelists. A two-thirds majority was defined as consensus. Definition, classification, staging and diagnosis and treatment recommendations were the main outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  "Ocular allergy" was proposed as the general term to describe ocular allergic diseases. Consensus regarding classification was not reached. Signs and symptoms were considered extremely important for the diagnosis. It was consensus that a staging system should be proposed based on the disease severity. Environmental control, avoidance of allergens and the use of artificial tears were recommended as first line treatment. The secondary treatment should include topical anti-histamines, mast cell stabilizers and multi actions drugs. Topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and vasoconstrictors were not recommended. Topical corticosteroids were recommended as third line of treatment for the most severe keratoconjunctivitis. Consensus was not reached regarding the use of systemic corticosteroids or immunosuppressant. Surgical approach and unconventional treatments were not recommended as routine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The task of creating guidelines for ocular allergies showed to be very complex. Many controversial topics remain unsolved. A larger consensus including experts from different groups around the world may be needed to further improve the current recommendations for several aspects of ocular allergy.
authors.affiliation: Setor de Córnea e Doenças Externas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP - Centro Avançado de Superfície Ocular - CASO - Instituto da Visão - UNIFESP - São Paulo (SP), Brazil. myrna_serapiao@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Myrna Serapião dos
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Milton Ruiz
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Denise de
authors.initials: Dd
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Luciene Barbosa de
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wainsztein
authors.forename: Sérgio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kandelman
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lozano
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beltrán
authors.forename: Oscar Baça
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Lozada
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santacruz
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guzzo
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Zaccarelli Filho
authors.forename: José Álvaro Pereira
authors.initials: JÁ
authors.lastname: Gomes
mesh_terms: D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003697:Delphi Technique; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D012720:Severity of Illness Index