Allergic Conjunctivitis Allergic conjunctivitis is one of the most common ocular complaints in humans. This is a reliable and simple model. The conjunctivitis is characterized clinically by irritation, discharge, erythema, and chemosis and histopathologically by infiltrations of neutrophils, macrophages, some T cells and a few eosinophils. Mice are immunized with short ragweed pollen in aluminum hydroxide. Allergic conjunctivitis is induced by one topical application of ragweed pollen onto the eye.
Immediate response includes conjuctival chemosis and redness, lid edema and discharge.
Conjuctivum is infiltrated with neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes. The second model is especially valuable for understanding the pathophysiology of ocular allergy and assessing the efficacy of the drugs on inhibiting leukocyte and monocyte infiltration associated with an IgE reaction.