Emerging therapies targeting eosinophil-mediated inflammation in chronic allergic conjunctivitis.

Overview

Ocular allergy remains a significant burden to the population while the treatment for the severe, chronic forms of allergic conjunctivitis remains largely limited to non-specific immunosuppressants. Eosinophils are central to the pathophysiology and sustaining the immunologic response found in the chronic forms of ocular allergy such as vernal keratoconjunctivitis and atopic keratoconjunctivitis. Several mediators of eosinophil recruitment, chemotaxis, adhesion, activation, and survival have been identified that offer potential therapeutic targets for ocular allergy. Based on preclinical and clinical data available in both ocular and non-ocular allergy studies, these emerging therapies warrant further investigation in reducing the severity of disease in patients with chronic ocular allergy.