Diagnostic assays in ocular allergy

Clinical and laboratory tests are useful in the diagnosis and management of ocular allergy but also provide aids to assess disease activity. Although the diagnosis of allergic disorders is most often made on clinical grounds, testing continues to play an important role, particularly in clinical trials. In addition to providing information to the clinician, some tests educate the patient by reinforcing the concept of allergy. Diagnostic testing also provides an important model in the understanding of mechanisms behind allergic diseases and the efficacy of potential therapies in the research setting. Despite the continuing advances in technology, many tests remain relegated to research environment and are not as yet clinically applicable. Until the widespread incorporation of diagnostic test into clinical practice, the physician must balance the need for diagnostic testing with experience and clinical intuition, after a thorough evaluation of the history and physical condition of the patient.