[Genetic insights of allergic diseases and allergic conjunctivitis].

Applied methodologies on genetics have progressed rapidly in recent years. Single nucleotide polymorphism based candidate gene strategy and whole genome scanning technology can provide unprecedented insights into complex diseases, including asthma and atopic dermatitis. The acquisition of genomic information by the genome-wide association studies(GWAS) revolutionized the detection of causative genes. Insights obtained from these discoveries have changed our ways of understanding allergic diseases, and provide new perspectives of allergic conjunctivitis. In this review, genetics and molecular mechanisms of both common allergic diseases and ocular allergy are discussed, with special emphasis on GWAS.