Recent Advances in Tear Fluid Analysis for Allergic Conjunctivitis Research

Abstract

Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is a common ocular surface allergic disease with a rising global incidence, significantly impacting patients’ quality of life. Traditional diagnosis primarily relies on clinical presentation and medical history, which are highly subjective and present challenges for early detection. As a noninvasive and repeatable method, tear fluid analysis can directly reflect the inflammatory status of the ocular surface and has demonstrated significant value in the diagnosis, classification, severity assessment, and therapeutic monitoring of allergic conjunctivitis. In recent years, advances in biomarker research and detection technologies have led to notable progress in the application of tear fluid analysis in the diagnosis and treatment of AC. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent developments in the study of biomarkers in tear fluid, including inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, immunoglobulins, enzymatic markers, and neurotransmitters. It introduces innovative detection techniques, ranging from traditional ELISA to proteomics and point-of-care testing (POCT), and analyzes the current status of clinical application. The paper also discusses existing challenges such as standardization, cost control, and clinical translation, and outlines future directions. Continuous advancements in tear fluid analysis technology will provide strong support for the precise diagnosis and personalized treatment of allergic conjunctivitis.