Emerging Therapeutics for Ocular Surface Disease

Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2019 Feb 28;19(3):16. doi: 10.1007/s11882-019-0844-8.

Abstract

Purpose of review: The purpose of this article is to review treatment advances in ocular allergy that include the treatment of the various signs and symptoms of the allergic inflammatory response of the ocular surface.

Recent findings: Recent studies have demonstrated improved pharmacological effect of topical agents with artificial tears and cold compresses; brimonidine, a new ophthalmic decongestant which has demonstrated decreased rebound conjunctivitis; and potential use of contact lens and other novel delivery instruments to increase medication retention time. Currently, there have been limited advances in novel ophthalmic treatments. Non-pharmacological interventions have demonstrated in a randomized control study that artificial tears and the use cold compresses alone or in combination with ophthalmic antihistamines can enhance the effectiveness of a traditional pharmacological therapy. The primary advances have been the start of head-to-head studies comparing various agents actively being used in the treatment of ocular allergy. In addition, there has been increasing interest in the development of novel delivery systems to increase residence time of pharmacological agents in the ocular surface such as nanoparticles, microfilms; examining novel pathways of controlling the allergic inflammatory response of the ocular surface such as modulation of cytokines, transcription factors, and immunophilins.

Keywords: Allergic conjunctivitis; Allergic inflammation; Conjunctivitis; Contact lenses; Lubrication; Non-pharmacological treatments; Ocular allergy; Ocular surface disease; Ophthalmic decongestant; Pharmacotherapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Anti-Allergic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Brimonidine Tartrate / therapeutic use*
  • Conjunctivitis, Allergic / therapy*
  • Cryotherapy / methods*
  • Histamine Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Ophthalmic Solutions

Substances

  • Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists
  • Anti-Allergic Agents
  • Histamine Antagonists
  • Ophthalmic Solutions
  • Brimonidine Tartrate