Allergic conjunctivitis is an acute, intermittent, or chronic conjunctival inflammation usually caused by airborne allergens. Symptoms include itching, lacrimation, discharge, and conjunctival hyperemia. Diagnosis is clinical. Treatment is with topical antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers.

Etiology

Allergic conjunctivitis is due to a type I hypersensitivity reaction to a specific antigen.

Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (hay fever conjunctivitis) is caused by airborne mold spores, or pollen of trees, grasses, or weeds. It tends to peak during the spring, late summer, or early fall and disappear during the winter months—corresponding to the life cycle of the causative plant.

Perennial allergic conjunctivitis (atopic conjunctivitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis) is caused by dust mites, animal dander, and other nonseasonal allergens. These allergens, particularly those in the home, tend to cause symptoms year-round.

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis is a more severe type of conjunctivitis most likely allergic in origin. It is most common among males aged 5 to 20 who also have eczema, asthma, or seasonal allergies. Vernal conjunctivitis typically reappears each spring and subsides in the fall and winter. Many children outgrow the condition by early adulthood.

Symptoms and Signs

General: Patients report bilateral mild to intense ocular itching, conjunctival hyperemia, photosensitivity (photophobia in severe cases), eyelid edema, and watery or stringy discharge. Concomitant rhinitis is common. Many patients have other atopic diseases, such as eczema, allergic rhinitis, or asthma.

Findings characteristically include conjunctival edema and hyperemia and a discharge. The bulbar conjunctiva may appear translucent, bluish, and thickened. Chemosis and a characteristic boggy blepharedema of the lower eyelid are common. Chronic itching can lead to chronic eyelid rubbing, periocular hyperpigmentation, and dermatitis.

Seasonal and perennial conjunctivitis: Fine papillae on the upper tarsal conjunctiva give it a velvety appearance. In more severe forms, larger tarsal conjunctival papillae, conjunctival scarring, corneal neovascularization, and corneal scarring with variable loss of visual acuity can occur.

Conjunctivitis (Vernal)

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis: Usually, the palpebral conjunctiva of the upper eyelid is involved, but the bulbar conjunctiva is sometimes affected. In the palpebral form, square, hard, flattened, closely packed, pale pink to grayish cobblestone papillae are present, chiefly in the upper tarsal conjunctiva. The uninvolved tarsal conjunctiva is milky white. In the bulbar (limbal) form, the circumcorneal conjunctiva becomes hypertrophied and grayish. Discharge may be tenacious and mucoid, containing numerous eosinophils.

Occasionally, a small, circumscribed loss of corneal epithelium occurs, causing pain and increased photophobia. Other corneal changes (eg, central plaques) and white limbal deposits of eosinophils (Trantas dots) may be seen.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is usually clinical. Eosinophils are present in conjunctival scrapings, which may be taken from the lower or upper tarsal conjunctiva; however, such testing is rarely indicated.

Treatment

• Symptomatic measures
• Topical antihistamines, NSAIDs, mast cell stabilizers, or a combination
• Topical corticosteroids or cyclosporineSome Trade Names
  NEORAL
  SANDIMMUNE
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  for recalcitrant cases

Avoidance of known allergens and use of tear supplements can reduce symptoms; antigen desensitization is occasionally helpful. Topical OTC antihistamines (eg, ketotifenSome Trade Names
ALAWAY
ZADITOR
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) are useful for mild cases. If these drugs are insufficient, topical prescription antihistamines (eg, olopatadineSome Trade Names
PATANOL
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, bepotastine, alcaftadine), NSAIDs (eg, ketorolacSome Trade Names
TORADOL
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), or mast cell stabilizers (eg, pemirolastSome Trade Names
ALAMAST

, nedocromilSome Trade Names
TILADE
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, azelastineSome Trade Names
ASTELIN
OPTIVAR
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) can be used separately or in combination. Topical corticosteroids (eg, loteprednolSome Trade Names
ALREX
LOTEMAX
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, fluorometholoneSome Trade Names
FLAREX
FML FORTE
FML
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0.1%, prednisoloneSome Trade Names
ORAPRED
PRELONE
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acetate 0.12% to 1% drops tid) can be useful in recalcitrant cases. Because topical corticosteroids can exacerbate ocular herpes simplex virus infections, possibly leading to corneal ulceration and perforation and, with long-term use, to glaucoma and possibly cataracts, their use should be initiated and monitored by an ophthalmologist. Topical cyclosporineSome Trade Names
NEORAL
SANDIMMUNE
Click for Drug Monograph
may be helpful.

Seasonal allergic conjunctivitis is less likely to require multiple drugs or intermittent topical corticosteroids.

Key Points

• Allergic conjunctivitis is usually caused by airborne allergens and can be seasonal or perennial.
• Symptoms tend to include itching, eyelid edema, stringy or watery discharge, and sometimes a history of seasonal recurrence.
• Diagnosis is usually clinical.
• Treatment includes tear supplements and topical drugs (usually antihistamines, vasoconstrictors, NSAIDs, mast cell stabilizers, or a combination).

Last full review/revision October 2012 by Melvin I. Roat, MD, FACS

Content last modified October 2012