Ocular allergic contact dermatitis from topical drugs.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Ocular allergic contact dermatitis is a common yet challenging and frequently misdiagnosed condition. Inappropriate or delayed treatment can contribute to a variety of clinical symptoms such as tearing and itching with signs such as ptosis and cicatricial ectropion, resulting in deterioration of disease, for which the topical medication was originally prescribed to resolve.

RECENT FINDINGS: Understanding previously unrecognized pathogenic mechanisms involving ocular contact dermatitis has driven new approaches to control the inflammatory process by neutralizing inflammatory mediators and their receptors.

SUMMARY: Early diagnosis and removing the antagonizing substance is crucial to manage ocular contact dermatitis. Steroid therapy is usually required to reduce symptoms. As ocular allergic dermatitis often develops in patients using drugs for chronic conditions that necessitate chronic application, it may be difficult at times to discontinue or replace the offending agent.