Pathobiology of Immune-Mediated Diseases of the Ocular Surface
Ocular surface disease describes a spectrum of disorders that affect the normal structure and function of the conjunctiva, cornea, and supportive glandular network. A significant proportion of such diseases have an immune etiology, such as in allergic and autoimmune conditions. In ocular allergy, inflammation affects mainly the conjunctiva, but advanced forms also involve adjacent sites such as the cornea (the so-called allergic keratoconjunctivitis). Likewise, systemic autoimmune disorders with ocular manifestations are associated with inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea. Ocular surface inflammation, such as in autoimmune Sjögren's syndrome, is additionally associated with a severely impaired tear function (the so-called dry eye disease, or keratoconjunctivitis sicca). The pathoimmunobiology underlying allergic and autoimmune ocular surface diseases as revealed by cLinical observations as well as animal models are described. Such mechanisms aid in advancing our current understanding of the pathobiology of the disease, and potentially provide a basis for the development of future therapeutic approaches that may effectively target ocular surface disease.
