Allergic eye disease is common, yet often overlooked in North America. In the U.S., up to 40% of the population is deemed to be affected and this number is growing. Symptoms and signs of ocular allergy can lead to decreased productivity and negatively impact quality of life (QoL). Various treatment options exist to achieve symptom control. For allergic conjunctivitis, ophthalmic agents include antihistamines, mast cell stabilizers, dual-activity agents, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids and some off-label treatments. Immunotherapy is recommended as a therapeutic option. This review provides a summary of the forms of ocular allergies, with a focus on symptoms and signs, impact on QoL, physical examination, diagnosis and therapeutic options of allergic conjunctivitis. Through multidisciplinary collaborations, a simplified algorithm for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis is proposed for Canadian clinical practice.

Background: Multiple animal antigens, spores and pollens were collected and identified from the Kuwaiti atmosphere. The role for these antigens in mediating allergic rhinitis for Kuwaiti residents needs to be evaluated. Objective: To investigate the causes (both indoors and outdoors) of allergic rhinitis for Kuwaiti residents. Method: This is a retrospective study of all positive skin tests that we obtained in our Allergy clinic in Mubarak Alkabeer Hospital in Kuwait, during the period between May 2013 and December 2015, from patients who presented with allergic rhinitis symptoms and/or signs. They underwent skin prick tests to a battery of common allergens (german cockroach, cat dander, dog dander, house dustmites mix, cladosporium, aspergillus mix, penicillium mix, alternaria, grass pollens mix, Russian thistle pollens, mugwort pollens, rough pigweed pollens, sorrel pollens, compositae pollens, olive pollens, and date palm pollens). A wheal of ≥3 mm was considered a positive skin test. Results: A total of 177 patients with rhinitis (90 females and 87 males) had positive test results to at least one allergen and were considered allergic. 77.9% of the patients had positive results to Russian thistle pollens, 39.9% to cat dander, 29.9% to grass pollens mix, 22.6% to compositae pollens, 22.6% to mugwort pollens, 22% to house dust mites mix, 21.4% to olive pollens, 20.9% to German cockroach, 20.3% to dog dander, 18.1% to rough pigweed pollens, 15.8% to date palm pollens, and 12.4% to sorrel pollens, 14.7% to penicillium, 10.7% to cladosporium, 10.7% to aspergillus mix, and 4% to alternaria. Conclusion: Russian Thistle pollen is the commonest sensitization for Kuwaiti residents with allergic rhinitis. Background: Environmental allergies affect many individuals of all ages. There are several aeroallergens that can trigger allergic reactions, namely allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of various environmental allergies in the Kingston, Ontario region. Methods: A chart review of skin prick test (SPT) results was completed on all patients in the practice of an academic Allergist affiliated with Queen's University. Patients who demonstrated positive SPT (defined as ≥3 mm than the negative control) to one or more allergens were included, and their age, gender and specific positive tests were recorded. Allergens evaluated included dust mites (D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae), dog dander, cat epithelium, tree mixes, birch pollen, other trees, grass mixes, ragweed mixes, short ragweed, other weeds, cockroach and numerous moulds. Of all patients reviewed, 1161 had positive SPT results to one or more allergens. Data analysis was completed with SPSS. Results: Dust mite was the most prevalent allergen (62.6%). The second and third most common were ragweed (52.6%) and cats (51.6%), respectively. The prevalence of other allergens, in order of decreasing frequency, were grass (49.7%), trees (43.1%), birch (34.8%), short ragweed (30.8%), molds (29.7%), other trees (25.6%), dog (...

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