The clinical spectrum of ocular allergy.

Ocular allergy is a very common pathology, and its incidence has increased in industrial countries in combination with an increase in atopy. Many different clinical features characterize the ocular allergy, which can be seasonal, perennial, or chronic. Therefore, ocular allergy must be considered part of the allergic syndrome; perennial or seasonal keratoconjunctivitis appear to be directly related to allergic rhinitis manifestations and, less frequently, to asthma and eczema. The principal field of research in ocular allergy concerns therapeutic applications and new concepts of physiopathologic mechanisms needed to understand the most optimal treatment that can be delivered.