[Management of allergic conjunctivitis. An observational study among ophthalmologists]

To describe the management of allergic conjunctivitis in private ophthalmology practice and to evaluate the collaboration between ophthalmologists and allergists.

Multicenter retrospective study. Each ophthalmologist was required to collect demographic and clinical data from the records of 10 patients with a 2- to 3-year history of allergic conjunctivitis.

A total of 353 records were interpretable, corresponding to 885 visits. Slightly more than 60% of patients had a history of allergy (rhinitis, asthma or cutaneous allergy), and 40% of patients had had allergy testing. Fewer than 2% of patients had seen an allergist. Analysis of presenting symptoms reveals that itching, burning, tearing, photophobia and discomfort led frequently to the diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis. This was confirmed through the interview concerning the circumstances of symptom development (most frequently involving exposure to trees and flowers) and ophthalmologic examination (presence of hyperemia, follicles, watery discharge, chemosis). The presence of non-specific symptoms such as ocular dryness was relatively frequent in association with perennial conjunctivitis. Over 95% of patients were given a topical treatment while fewer than 10% were referred to an allergist.

Allergic conjunctivitis, particularly seasonal, is easily identifiable by an ophthalmologist. Perennial and more serious forms of conjunctivitis could be referred to an allergist more frequently.