[Therapy of allergic conjunctivitis]

Among the several eye diseases (or diseases involving the eye) based on hypersensitivity reactions, the most frequent is allergic conjunctivitis. Recently six types of allergic conjunctivitis/keratoconjunctivitis are distinguished: 1. seasonal, 2. perennial, 3. vernal, 4. giant papillary, 5. atopic and 6. of contact origin. Their treatment is generally local. In the most frequent seasonal ("hay fever") and perennial forms the elimination of the allergen or when it is impossible antihistamines (with or without vasoconstrictors), "weak" steroids or hyposensitisation are offered. In vernal and atopic keratoconjunctivitis mast cell stabilizers are the most effective, with special effect of lodoxamide in the vernal type. In giant papillary and contact allergic inflammations the elimination of the causative agent is the first method of choice. In resistant cases "strong" steroids, in extreme forms immunosuppressive, cytostatic and systemic treatment may become necessary. The paper gives a review of currently applied medicines (mainly eyedrops) and other methods of treatment, and includes therapeutic principles applying to various forms of allergic conjunctivitis.