Ocular allergy

Abstract

Method: The Medline, PubMed, Elsevier Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases were used to search for evidence-based literature on ocular allergy.Main outcome measures: Classification and nomenclature, epidemiology and pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnosis and management of ocular allergy. Results:The search retrieved 5200 number of studies of which 6 met the criteria. IntroductionOcular allergies encompass a group of hypersensitivity disorders to normally harmless substances, known as allergens and can be observed as the only dominant presentation of an allergic sensitisation, or are associated with rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis or food allergy (Leonardi et al., 2012). The most common clinical presentations of ocular allergy are conjunctival hyperaemia (redness) and chemosis (swelling), itching and tearing, and vision loss in severe cases (Chowdhury, 2013;Leonardi, De Dominicis, & Motterle, 2007). Management of this condition is based on minimising contact of the causal allergen with the conjunctiva using a series of protective measures, with medication assisting in controlling the symptoms produced by the allergic inflammatory process (Chowdhury, 2013;La Rosa et al., 2013). There is currently no universal standard nomenclature and classification, making an estimation of ocular allergy prevalence challenging. In addition, as most ocular allergic diseases are comorbidities of rhinitis, available prevalence data encompasses both ocular and nasal symptoms, making it impossible to separate ocular allergy and allergic rhinitis (La Rosa et al., 2013). Moreover, controversy continues to surround the exact pathophysiological mechanisms involved in ocular allergic diseases. The purpose of this paper is therefore E-mail address: mashigek@ukzn.ac.za. Peer review under responsibility of Johannesburg University. to systematically review scientific and published research studies on the classification and nomenclature, epidemiology and pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnosis and management of ocular allergy.h e a l t h s a g e s o n d h e i d 2 2 ( 2 0 1 7 ) 1 1 2 e1 2 Method and scope of reviewThe initial search term was 'ocular allergy' by the Information Specialist (IS). An article was considered for review if it met the inclusion criteria of reporting on the classification, nomenclature, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, or an approach to diagnosis and management of ocular allergy. Articles published between 1994 and 2015 years in English, and indexed in the following electronic databases were searched: Medline, PubMed, Elsevier Science Direct, and Google Scholar. The standard process for a systematic literature review was adopted:1. Titles were reviewed and those which were not relevant were rejected. 2. Abstracts of publications that were not rejected were obtained. 3. Two individuals reviewed the abstracts independently and rejected further papers that were not eligible. A third individual adjudicated if there were any differences. 4. Full text of the abstracts selected was obtained...