Journal of Nihon University Medical Association
Online ISSN : 1884-0779
Print ISSN : 0029-0424
ISSN-L : 0029-0424
Special Articles:
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Updates in the Allergic Ophthalmic Disorders
Jun Shoji
Author information
JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2020 Volume 79 Issue 2 Pages 99-105

Details
Abstract

Allergic conjunctival diseases (ACDs) are inflammatory diseases of the conjunctiva caused predominantly by the IgE-mediated immediate hypersensitivity response and accompanied by conjunctival eosinophilic inflammation. ACDs comprise five different clinical forms: seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, perennial allergic conjunctivitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC), vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC), and giant papillary conjunctivitis. In the diagnosis of ACDs, clinical scores, clinical tests for atopic diathesis (including total IgE in tears and antigen specific-IgE antibody in serum), and ocular allergic tests are crucial diagnostic tools. In the ocular allergic tests for ACDs, allergy-associated factors in tear samples and cytology specimens are usually investigated in the laboratory to assess the severity of allergic inflammation in the conjunctiva. Eosinophil cationic protein and eotaxin-2 are suitable biomarkers in the ocular surface test. Topical immunosuppressants, including cyclosporine ophthalmic solution and tacrolimus ophthalmic suspension, have been shown to be effective nonsteroidal therapies for treating VKC. It is important that the efficacy and safety of topical immunosuppressant therapy for VKC should be evaluated objectively. Recent findings related to ocular surface biomarkers and topical immunosuppressant therapy provide a novel approach for allergy treatment of the ocular surface of patients with ACDs.

Content from these authors
Previous article Next article
feedback
Top