Medical therapy for ocular allergy.

The ocular manifestations of allergy have traditionally been classified into four categories--namely, hay fever conjunctivitis, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis, and contact lens-associated giant papillary conjunctivitis. Typically, hay fever conjunctivitis is characterized by mild conjunctival inflammation, whereas the other disorders may have severe inflammation and clinical manifestations. Potentially blinding corneal complications may result from vernal keratoconjunctivitis and atopic keratoconjunctivitis. Although hay fever conjunctivitis is clearly an immediate hypersensitivity reaction, the immunologic mechanisms that cause vernal keratoconjunctivitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis, and giant papillary conjunctivitis are primarily unknown and speculative. Treatment of patients with ocular allergies is often challenging and may necessitate collaborative efforts of an ophthalmologist and an allergist. Herein we discuss conventional therapy and new, promising antiallergy drugs.