Relevance of IgE, Allergy and Eye Rubbing in the Pathogenesis and Management of Keratoconus

Overview

Journal Indian J Ophthalmol

Specialty Ophthalmology

Date 2020 Sep 25

PMID 32971611

Citations 21

Authors

Prerna Ahuja

Zelda Dadachanji

Rohit Shetty

Sowmya Arudi Nagarajan

Pooja Khamar

Swaminathan Sethu

Sharon DSouza

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Keratoconus (KC) is an ectatic disease of the cornea characterized by localized thinning and protrusion causing irregular astigmatism, which can lead to significant visual impairment. KC has often been associated with allergy and/or atopy, which are immune-mediated inflammatory reactions primarily driven by IgE. A higher proportion of KC patients were reported to have history or suffer from systemic and/or ocular allergy with elevated allergen-specific IgE and/or total serum IgE. Eye rubbing, one of the risk factors for worsening of the disease and developing related complications in KC, is associated with IgE driven conditions. The current review enumerates and contextualizes the evidence related to IgE in mediating KC pathogenesis, including aberrant extra-cellular matrix remodeling. This review also discusses clinical strategies directed at modulating IgE-mediated responses in the management of KC, and the emerging academic and plausible clinical relevance of assessing serum and tear IgE (allergen-specific and total) status in improving the understanding of disease pathobiology, treatment planning, and prognosis.

Citing Articles

Self-reported prevalence and risk factors associated with keratoconus among the adult population of Trinidad and Tobago: a cross-sectional study.

Ezinne N, Kwarteng M, Mashige K, Moodley V Int Ophthalmol. 2025; 45(1):44.

PMID: 39881048 DOI: 10.1007/s10792-025-03414-8.

Factors associated with eye disorders and diseases: A retrospective study.

Goktas O Pak J Med Sci. 2025; 41(1):176-181.

PMID: 39867772 PMC: 11755293. DOI: 10.12669/pjms.41.1.9728.

Opportunities for Improving the Long-term Management of Keratoconus Patients.

Nau A, Nau C, Shorter E, Schornack M, Fogt J, Harthan J J Contact Lens Res Sci. 2025; 8(1):e37-e46.

PMID: 39845809 PMC: 11753081. DOI: 10.22374/jclrs.v8i1.61.

Increased inflammatory mediators in the ocular surface tissue in keratoconus.

Santos A, Filho J, Cenedeze M, Hiyane M, Amano M, Cruz M Mol Vis. 2024; 30:279-288.

PMID: 39563679 PMC: 11575844.

Subclinical corneal inflammation and subbasal nerve alterations in keratoconus detected by in vivo confocal microscopy: a cross-sectional study.

Chirapapaisan C, Sawarot M, Kengpunpanich S Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2024; .

PMID: 39520548 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-024-06664-x.

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