title: Diagnostics and new developments in the treatment of ocular allergies.
abstract: About 30% of people suffer from allergic symptoms, and 40% to 80% of them have eye symptoms. Atopic conjunctivitis is divided into seasonal allergic conjunctivitis and perennial allergic conjunctivitis. The treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis is simple: antihistamines, anti-inflammatory agents, or cromoglycate. Perennial allergic conjunctivitis needs longer therapy with mast cell stabilizers and sometimes local steroids. Atopic keratoconjunctivitis requires long-term treatment of the lid eczema and keratoconjunctivitis. Vernal keratoconjunctivitis mainly affects children and young people. It commonly calms down after puberty. It demands intensive therapy, often for many years, to avoid serious complicating corneal ulcers. Giant papillary conjunctivitis is a foreign body reaction in contact lens users or patients with sutures following ocular surgery. Nonallergic eosinophilic conjunctivitis affects mostly middle-aged and older women with eosinophilic conjunctivitis and dry eye. Contact allergic blepharoconjunctivitis is often caused by cosmetics and eye medication. Work-related ocular allergies should be considered as a cause of resistant ocular symptoms in workplaces.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergology, Skin and Allergy Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland. osmo.kari@optokari.fi
authors.forename: Osmo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kari
authors.forename: K Matti
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Saari
mesh_terms: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001762:Blepharitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007637:Keratoconjunctivitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D013256:Steroids; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium