Unless the allergy is due to an easily removable cause like a glaucoma eye drop, or wearing a contact lens or a protruding suture, it can be difficult to identify exactly which allergen(s) are causing the problem in allergic eye disease.
Identifying definite lifestyle changes which occurred immediately before the onset of the ocular allergy can help, for example moving home to a carpeted floor instead of wooden floorboards, suggests house dust mite allergy.
Previous studies indicate that skin prick testing results do not accurately correlate in allergic conjunctivitis, so it is not currently recommended.
However if a patient wishes nevertheless to identify which agents or eye make up they may be allergic to, referral to a consultant expert in skin prick testing is possible.