Effects of Antihistamine-Releasing Contact Lenses on Severe Allergic Conjunctivitis

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2023 Oct;31(8):1674-1676. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2022.2103001. Epub 2022 Aug 1.

Abstract

Half of the patients who used CL daily did not wish to switch to spectacles even with ocular-allergic symptoms and findings. Therefore, continued CL use with suppressed ocular allergy can improve productivity and quality of life for CL users. This study described the clinical courses of CL users with ocular-allergic conjunctivitis who started ARCL trials on their eyes. Diagnoses of the seven understudied cases were AKC in 3, VKC in 2, SAC in 1, and CLPC in 1 case. All seven cases had myopia. Following the use of ARCL, six patients except for case 7 were satisfied, and objective findings were judged to be well-controlled. ARCL can be a useful tool for CL users with allergic conjunctivitis. However, ARCL should be introduced after allergic conjunctivitis is controlled or becomes asymptomatic. Furthermore, ARCL should be immediately discontinued if ocular-allergic symptoms flare after introducing ARCL.

Keywords: AKC, atopic keratoconjunctivitis; ARCL, antihistamine-releasing contact lens; CLPC, contact lens-related papillary conjunctivitis; SAC, seasonal allergic conjunctivitis; VKC, vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

MeSH terms

  • Conjunctivitis, Allergic* / diagnosis
  • Conjunctivitis, Allergic* / drug therapy
  • Eye
  • Histamine Antagonists
  • Histamine H1 Antagonists
  • Humans
  • Quality of Life

Substances

  • Histamine Antagonists
  • Histamine H1 Antagonists