Ocular Allergies

Seasonal allergies are a type 1 hypersensitivity reaction; which is an immediate auto-immune response to a substance that would not normally elicit the response in all persons. A type 1 hypersensitivity reaction is regulated by IgE and mast cell degranulation. More than 50 million American suffer with some shape or form of ocular seasonal allergies (Allergy Statistics and Allergy Facts. WebMD, WebMD. www.webmd.com/allergies/allergy-statistics ). The chance that a child born to a parent who suffers from ocular allergies will also suffer from allergies is 30–40%; this illustrates the growing need for timely, accurate, and efficient management on part of all members of a patient’s healthcare team (Allergy Statistics and Allergy Facts. WebMD, WebMD. www.webmd.com/allergies/allergy-statistics ).