Cutaneous allergy testing in patients suspected of an allergic reaction to eye medication

Our aim was to determine the usefulness of allergy testing in patients with possible allergic reactions to an eye medication.

This retrospective study analyzed the usefulness of allergy testing in 90 patients who on the basis of their complaints were under suspicion of having an allergic response to eye medication.

Among the 90 patients suspected of an allergic reaction to eye medication, the most common complaint was itching, while hyperemic conjunctivae were the most common symptom. Skin testing revealed an allergy to eye medication in 32 (36%) of the patients tested, which seemed to be the causal factor of the complaints in 22 cases (24%). The most frequent medication-associated allergies were directed against tobramycin, neomycin sulfate and thimerosal. Clinically relevant non-drug-related allergies occurred in 26 cases and were directed against nickel sulfate, Myroxylon pereirae and fragrance mix. Twenty-three patients were atopic and had positive skin prick tests against inhalation allergens such as house dust mites or dogs.

Allergy testing was helpful to obtain a diagnosis of a clinically relevant allergy in 48 of the 90 patients who were referred under suspicion of having a contact allergy to eye medication.