Allergic conditions of the eye

Abstract

Patients suffering from allergic conditions affecting the eye present to primary healthcare providers on a daily basis. It is important to note that many of these conditions are transient in nature and do not cause any permanent damage to the eye, whereas other, more chronic forms are visionthreatening and may lead to irreversible ocular damage if misdiagnosed and not treated appropriately. In this article, the different guises of ocular allergy will be described, along with helpful hints that will aid in reaching the correct diagnosis and management of each. Conditions predominantly affecting the eyelids will be discussed first, followed by those primarily affecting the ocular surface and finally those associated with contact lens wear.