Ricerc@Sapienza

Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) includes a wide spectrum of clinical entities characterized by different incidence, age
of onset, natural course, clinical outcome and response to treatment. Taken together, they represent one of the most
frequent ocular surface diseases affecting more than 30% of the young-adult population and show an increasing
incidence over the years. Moreover, comorbidities with other systemic atopic conditions such as asthma, atopic
dermatitis and rhinitis require a multidisciplinary approach. Recent advances in the knowledge of the pathogenic

Purpose of review: During allergic reaction, nervous and immune systems mutually interact through release of mediators, including neurotrophic factors and nerve growth factor (NGF). These mediators modulate allergic reaction through binding their receptors expressed by immune and structural cells and by stimulating neuropeptide release by nerves. The role of neuropeptides and NGF has been demonstrated in allergic asthma and rhinitis, and, to a lesser extent, in allergic conjunctivitis.