Diagnosis of Allergic Conjunctivitis

Itching was cited as a major symptom of their ocular disease by 49 (80%) of the 61 patients with allergic conjunctivitis. Conjunctival scrapings from 51 patients (84%) demonstrated intact eosinophils or eosinophil granules. Eosinophil granules were a useful and recognizable cytologic feature of allergic conjunctivitis even in the absence of intact eosinophils. We believe that a history of itching and the presence of eosinophils or eosinophil granules in conjunctival scrapings are helpful in diagnosing allergic conjunctivitis.