Both allergic and nonallergic subjects with conjunctival symptoms can demonstrate conjunctival hyperreactivity to conjunctival challenge
Summary
The concept of chronic conjunctival hyperreactivity has not been explored to the extent that airway hyperreactivity has been studied.
The authors wished to assess the presence of conjunctival hyperreactivity in both allergic and nonallergic patients who exhibited complaints of itching, redness, or tearing. They evaluated 63 subjects with these complaints by hyperosmolar challenge with serial diluted glucose concentrations. Six of 7 subjects with grass pollen allergy, 17 of 20 with dust mite allergy, and 10 of 11 subjects who were sensitive to both allergens demonstrated conjunctival hyperreactivity. Thus 33 of the 38 allergic subjects were hyperresponsive. Four of 25 nonallergic subjects demonstrated conjunctival hyperreactivity.
The authors concluded that conjunctival hyperreactivity can be present in both allergic and nonallergic subjects, and that allergic subjects were more likely to show conjunctival hyperreactivity than were nonallergic individuals. This was true even when they were asymptomatic.
Reference
Mercer Mourao EM, et al. Ocular symptoms in nonspecific conjunctival hyperreactivity. Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology 2011; 107(1):29-34.