Conjunctival allergen challenge: models in the investigation of ocular allergy.

Abstract

Recently, the number of agents to treat ocular allergy has increased dramatically, from three (pheniramine, antazoline, cromolyn) to more than a dozen. A general increase in the incidence of atopy in recent years and the fact that patients are becoming less tolerant of bothersome signs and symptoms have been driving forces in this increase. As visual tasking, such as reading and working on a computer, has become more prevalent, there is an increased awareness of ocular allergy and the impact it has on quality of life and productivity at work and school. With the need for more effective medications, the development of models, such as the conjunctival allergen challenge (CAC), has made the identification of new agents more efficient. In this article, we review the relevant background on the science behind allergen challenges in the eye, how models are designed, and how models are used in the field today.

• Authors: Mark B Abelson, Oliver Loeffler
• Journal: Current allergy and asthma reports (Curr Allergy Asthma Rep) Vol. 3 Issue 4 Pg. 363-8 (Jul 2003) ISSN: 1529-7322 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12791217 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Allergens

Topics

• Allergens (adverse effects)
• Conjunctiva (drug effects, immunology)
• Conjunctivitis, Allergic (epidemiology, immunology)
• Eye Diseases (epidemiology, immunology)
• Humans
• Hypersensitivity, Immediate (epidemiology, immunology)
• Immunologic Tests
• Models, Immunological
• Prevalence
• United States (epidemiology)