Vernal Conjunctivitis

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Abstract
• Repeated topical applications of fluoresceinyl ovalbumin (FL-OA) to the conjunctival sac of guinea pigs sensitized them for conjunctival type 1 hypersensitivity reactions and mast cell degranulation. Guinea pigs infected withAscaris suum, with high titers of circulating anti-A suumIgE and IgG1antibody, also produced conjunctival type 1 reactions on topical challenge with Asuumantigen. These reactions were no more intense than those of animals topically sensitized and challenged with FL-OA, which in some instances had no detectable serum homocytotropic antibody. Persistently reactive animals that had undergone repeated type 1 conjunctival reactions had histological findings (eg, papillary changes with extensive epithelial eosinophil infiltrates, epithelial thickening or thinning, numerous goblet cells, subepithelial lymphoid cell infiltrates, and new vessel formation) resembling those of human atopic vernal conjunctivitis.