New drug treatments for ocular allergies

Abstract

Current drug treatments for ocular allergy target the key mechanisms involved in the development of clinical disease: mast cells are targeted by mast cell stabilizers, histamine by histamine receptor antagonists and inflammation by corticosteroids. None of these agents lacks side effects and none completely abolishes signs and symptoms. The recent introduction of dual-acting agents has improved the management of seasonal and perennial ocular allergies due to their multiple pharmacological activities, longer duration of action and a relative lack of side effects. New therapeutic strategies are still required to respond to the complex pathogenesis of severe forms of ocular allergy, such as vernal and atopic keratoconjunctivitis. Drugs should be developed that apply recent knowledge gained regarding the immunopharmacology of the allergic reaction.

Keywords::

• allergic conjunctivitis
• antihistamines
• cyclosporine A
• epinastine
• ketotifen
• mast cell stabilizers
• olopatadine
• tear cytokines
• vernal keratoconjunctivitis