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C CLINICAL RESEARCH

Figure 4: Chronic PAC (dust allergy). Superior tarsal papillary conjunctivitis shown with (a) fluorescein and cobalt blue light,
and (b) white light. (c) Inferior tarsal papillae shown with fluorescein and cobalt blue light. PAC = perennial allergic conjunctivitis.

Figure 4.
Figure 5: Ocular signs of (a) AKC, b) VKC, and (c) atopic dermatitis. AKC = atopic keratoconjunctivitis; VKC = vernal kerato-

conjunctivitis. (a) and (b): Courtesy of Dr. Gina Sorbara, executive of IACLE, with permission.

Figure 5.
Table 1: Other ocular allergy subtypes and their main characteristics

Ocular allergy subtype Demographics and/or associations Primary symptoms
• Typically occurs in males, 30–50 years of • Severe ocular itching (ocular surface,
age 15 eyelids)
• Perennial, can be worse in the winter • Other symptoms (similar to VKC): Tearing,
Atopic keratoconjunctivitis months burning, photophobia, mucous discharge
(AKC)
• Associated with atopic dermatitis/eczema 15,17 • Significant hyperemia and edema of the
• Associated with other allergic diseases (e.g., conjunctiva (chronic inflammation) 15
hay fever, asthma) 15,17 • Corneal scarring, neovascularization
• Severe ocular itching
• Other symptoms: Photophobia, tearing, and
• Typically occurs in males, 3–25 years of age 15 mucous discharge 15
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis • History of atopy such as asthma, allergic • Limbal nodules, Trantas’ dots (limbal
(VKC) rhinitis, and eczema in half of those with form) 15
VKC 19 • Large cobblestone papillae on superior
tarsus (chronic inflammation) 15
• Shield ulcer may form in severe cases 15
• Can occur in the general population • Itching, dryness of the skin, and superficial
Atopic dermatitis
• Often begins in early childhood 20 inflammation 21

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