Ocular allergy: causes and therapeutic options.

Ocular allergic eye conditions are among the most common anterior eye problems encountered in optometric practice. There are six common forms of ocular allergy: seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, perennial allergic conjunctivitis, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis, contact lens associated papillary conjunctivitis and contact ocular allergy. Here, we review the current understanding of the pathophysiology underlying ocular allergic conditions and describe the different causes and forms of allergic eye disease and different treatment options.