An Analysis of Thirty Consecutive Cases of Allergic Conjunctivitis
Abstract
Review and History
The question of allergic conjunctivitis dates back to the year 1796, at which time Edward Jenner vaccinated for smallpox successfully. Many other workers have contributed to this subject. Among the more prominent ones are Magendie and Pasteur, and in recent years such workers as Wilmer and Woods. There is no need to go into a resumé of the etiology and contributions, as Hansel has made a very complete and adequate report of these observations1.
The present series of cases consists of consecutive patients in which a diagnosis of allergic conjunctivitis was made. In addition, these cases have had an adequate allergic investigation. Approximately 90 percent of these patients were seen by Dr. A. D. Ruedemann of the Department of Ophthalmology, and he has concurred in the diagnosis of an allergic conjunctivitis. A large number of these cases were referred to us by him for study from the point of view of allergy as a possible factor in their presenting problem. These patients were treated locally only in certain isolated instances, according to recommendations made by the Eye Department. In the majority of cases, all local medication was discontinued. Also, possible contact factors such as cosmetics, and exposure to various inhalants, for example, dust, feathers, etc., were eliminated.
Out of thirty cases, nine of these patients were in the third decade of life. It was interesting to observe that there was an equal distribution of cases in the first, second, fifth, sixth and seventh decades (three patients in each decade). (See. . .
