Dear Colleagues,

The ocular surface is constantly exposed to environmental allergens. Allergic eye diseases are common ophthalmic disorders that affect millions globally. The forms of ocular disorders range in severity from mild to sight-threatening. The usual clinical manifestations of allergic eye diseases include itching, eyelid edema, conjunctival hyperemia, chemosis, conjunctival fibroproliferative lesions, and keratitis. Allergic eye disease is an inflammation of the ocular surface mediated by IgE-dependent and/or IgE-independent immunopathogenic mechanisms. Seasonal and perennial variants of allergic conjunctivitis are IgE-dependent hypersensitivity immune reactions. Vermal keratoconjunctivitis and atopic keratoconjunctivitis involve IgE-dependent and IgE-independent immunopathological mechanisms. The pathology of giant papillary conjunctivitis involves immune and non-immune mechanisms.

Immune and pathological mechanisms play a vital role in allergic eye diseases; however, our understanding of the molecular and cellular aspects of immune and pathological mechanisms is not fully elucidated. Nevertheless, innovations in the area of immune and pathological mechanisms of allergic eye diseases will provide breakthroughs in potential therapeutic targets in allergic eye diseases. Targeted therapy that controls and suppresses allergic reactions have become readily available; however, there is ongoing research focused on developing innovative therapy aimed at inhibiting immune cells, mediators, and cellular receptors that facilitate the immunopathogenesis and immunopathology of allergic eye diseases.  There is also ongoing research that is focused on developing enhanced delivery methods of anti-allergic therapeutics.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to highlight current research on the cellular and molecular aspects of immune and pathological mechanisms of allergic eye diseases. This Special Issue will also highlight breakthroughs in potential therapeutic targets that will go a long way towards developing targeted therapies with enhanced benefits. You are encouraged to submit original research or review articles for consideration to broaden our current understanding of immunopathogenesis, immunopathology, and management of allergic eye diseases.

Prof. Dr. De Gaulle I. Chigbu
Dr. Livio Vitiello
Guest Editors

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• allergy
• IgE
• IL-4
• IL-5
• IL-13
• TNF-alpha
• mast cells
• eosinophils
• Th1 cells
• Th2 cells
• therapeutics
• immunopathogenesis
• immunopathology
• conjunctivitis
• keratoconjunctivitis