Allergic conjunctivitis causes

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sujaya Chattopadhyay, M.D.[2]

Overview

Allergic conjunctivitis can be attributed to a variety of causative agents, both natural and artificial.

Causes

Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis^[1]

Transitory allergens:

Tree pollen
Grass pollen

Perennial allergic conjunctivitis^[1]

Indoor allergens

House dust mites
Animal dander
Mold spores
Cockroach
Rodents

The smaller allergens, being more easily volatile, are more potent.

Atopic keratoconjunctivitis^[2]

There is usually a history of asthma, systemic atopic disease or eczema. It is perennial in nature with worsening in the winter months.

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis

The incidence peaks during spring when exposure to tree grass pollens increases^[3].

Giant papillary conjunctivitis

It is predominantly iatrogenic, triggered by foreign bodies in the eye such as contact lenses, prostheses, or protruding corneal sutures, all of which may precipitate and perpetuate an inflammatory response^[4].

Contact hypersensitivity

This is usually precipitated by exposure to an iatrogenic allergen, such as eye cosmetics or ocular therapeutic preparations, whose withdrawal leads to clinical improvement^[5].

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Bielory L, Meltzer EO, Nichols KK, Melton R, Thomas RK, Bartlett JD (2013). “An algorithm for the management of allergic conjunctivitis”. Allergy Asthma Proc. 34 (5): 408–20. doi:10.2500/aap.2013.34.3695. PMID 23998237.
↑ La Rosa M, Lionetti E, Reibaldi M, Russo A, Longo A, Leonardi S; et al. (2013). “Allergic conjunctivitis: a comprehensive review of the literature”. Ital J Pediatr. 39: 18. doi:10.1186/1824-7288-39-18. PMC 3640929. PMID 23497516.
↑ McGill JI, Holgate ST, Church MK, Anderson DF, Bacon A (1998). “Allergic eye disease mechanisms”. Br J Ophthalmol. 82 (10): 1203–14. doi:10.1136/bjo.82.10.1203. PMC 1722368. PMID 9924312.
↑ Allansmith MR, Korb DR, Greiner JV, Henriquez AS, Simon MA, Finnemore VM (1977). “Giant papillary conjunctivitis in contact lens wearers”. Am J Ophthalmol. 83 (5): 697–708. doi:10.1016/0002-9394(77)90137-4. PMID 868969.
↑ O’Donnell BF, Foulds IS (1993). “Contact allergic dermatitis and contact urticaria due to topical ophthalmic preparations”. Br J Ophthalmol. 77 (11): 740–1. doi:10.1136/bjo.77.11.740. PMC 504637. PMID 7904178.

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[pmid23998237-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Bielory L, Meltzer EO, Nichols KK, Melton R, Thomas RK, Bartlett JD (2013). “An algorithm for the management of allergic conjunctivitis”. Allergy Asthma Proc. 34 (5): 408–20. doi:10.2500/aap.2013.34.3695. PMID 23998237.

[pmid23497516-2] La Rosa M, Lionetti E, Reibaldi M, Russo A, Longo A, Leonardi S; et al. (2013). “Allergic conjunctivitis: a comprehensive review of the literature”. Ital J Pediatr. 39: 18. doi:10.1186/1824-7288-39-18. PMC 3640929. PMID 23497516.

[pmid9924312-3] McGill JI, Holgate ST, Church MK, Anderson DF, Bacon A (1998). “Allergic eye disease mechanisms”. Br J Ophthalmol. 82 (10): 1203–14. doi:10.1136/bjo.82.10.1203. PMC 1722368. PMID 9924312.

[pmid868969-4] Allansmith MR, Korb DR, Greiner JV, Henriquez AS, Simon MA, Finnemore VM (1977). “Giant papillary conjunctivitis in contact lens wearers”. Am J Ophthalmol. 83 (5): 697–708. doi:10.1016/0002-9394(77)90137-4. PMID 868969.

[pmid7904178-5] O’Donnell BF, Foulds IS (1993). “Contact allergic dermatitis and contact urticaria due to topical ophthalmic preparations”. Br J Ophthalmol. 77 (11): 740–1. doi:10.1136/bjo.77.11.740. PMC 504637. PMID 7904178.

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