title: Allergic conjunctivitis: a comprehensive review of the literature.
abstract: Ocular allergy represents one of the most common conditions encountered by allergists and ophthalmologists. Allergic conjunctivitis is often underdiagnosed and consequently undertreated. Basic and clinical research has provided a better understanding of the cells, mediators, and immunologic events, which occur in ocular allergy. New pharmacological agents have improved the efficacy and safety of ocular allergy treatment. An understanding of the immunologic mechanisms, clinical features, differential diagnosis, and treatment of ocular allergy may be useful to all specialists who deal with these patients. The purpose of this review is to systematically review literature underlining all the forms classified as ocular allergy: seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, perennial allergic conjunctivitis, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, atopic keratocongiuntivitis, contact allergy, and giant papillary conjunctivitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Catania, Via S, Sofia 78, Catania, 95123, Italy. mlarosa@unict.it
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: La Rosa
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lionetti
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reibaldi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomarchio
authors.forename: Teresio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Avitabile
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reibaldi
mesh_terms: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007637:Keratoconjunctivitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D006633:Histamine Antagonists