[Allergic granuloma of the conjunctiva]

The authors describe clinical and histopathologic findings in three patients with so-called allergic granulomas of the conjunctiva. The subconjunctival, yellowish, quite sharply delineated nodules are caused by local precipitation of an antigen-antibody complex (Splendore-Hoeppli phenomenon) with a subsequent surrounding foreign body reaction. The granulomas may represent a reaction to parasites. In the authors cases, however, no etiologic factor could be identified.