Allergen immunotherapy reduces symptoms and steroid use in refractory allergic eye disease
Key Takeaways
- Allergen-specific immunotherapy improved outcomes in refractory allergic eye disease, with 90% of treated patients reporting reduced allergy symptoms.
- Steroid dependence decreased after allergen-specific immunotherapy, including a significant reduction in the use of topical, oral, and potent topical steroids during long-term follow-up.
Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) was associated with improved symptom control and reduced steroid use in patients with refractory allergic eye disease (AED), according to a study.
The retrospective study evaluated 805 patients with AED, including 121 who were classified as having refractory disease due to persistent exacerbations despite treatment.
Following allergen testing, 52 patients began AIT based on test results and clinical history.
After treatment, 90% of patients experienced a reduction in allergy symptoms. The need for both topical and oral steroids declined significantly following AIT. Use of potent topical steroids also decreased, with 15 patients requiring these medications after AIT compared with 32 before treatment.
Long-term follow-up, with a mean duration of 25.5 months, showed sustained allergy control and minimal side effects.
Reference
D’Souza S, Singh V, Nagarajan SA, et al. Long-term Outcomes of the Management of Chronic Refractory Ocular Allergy Using Allergen Immunotherapy. Cornea. 2025;doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000004027. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42335091.
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