Types of Acute and Chronic Allergic Conjunctivitis

Allergic conjunctivitis can be separated into different types based on clinical features and disease severity.

Common features to all forms:

(1) itching

(2) some form of ocular discharge

(3) caused by an exposure to a triggering allergen

Acute types:

(1) seasonal allergic conjunctivitis

(2) perennial allergic conjunctivitis

Chronic type:

(1) atopic keratoconjunctivitis

(2) vernal keratoconjunctivitis

Mixed type

(1) giant papillary conjunctivitis (chronic allergic conjunctivitis and mechanical irritation)

Type	Features
seasonal	seasonal "hay fever", chemosis, tearing and/or mucoid discharge, conjunctival injection, symptoms vary based on level of exposure to allergen
perennial	more year round
atopic	severe with involvement of lids; often associated with atopic dermatitis; usually perennial but may be worse in the winter
vernal	seasonal pattern, severe itching and inflammation, Trantas's dots, limbal gelatinous nodules, cobblestone papillae, shield ulcer, photophobia
giant papillary	giant papillae present

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