The Immunological Basis of Degenerative Diseases of the Eye

Abstract

It has become clear that disorders that were once considered “degenerative” have complex mechanisms, with many having been shown to have immune mediation as part of the disease process. These include arteriosclerotic heart disease and Alzheimer's disease. Indeed, several ocular disorders that once fell into the “degenerative” category meet this criterion as well. Immune mediation has been shown to be a part of many of the most common ocular disorders, and not just that of uveitis, or ocular inflammatory disease.

Keywords :

• autoimmune retinopathy, diabetic retinopathy, inflammation, inherited eye disease, macular degeneration