ABSTRACT
The relevance of immuno-inflammatory responses in the cornea and ocular surface can hardly be overemphasized. The pathophysiology of most acute and chronic forms of corneal and ocular surface disease (e.g., dry eye syndrome, allergy, and microbial keratoconjunctivitis, to name a few) includes a significant component of the inflammatory response. Topical and and systemic anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating agents are used with varying degrees of success in bringing many of these conditions under control. Hence, a better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which the ocular surface participates in immuno-inflammatory disorders is critical for both identifying important research questions as well as for a more rational clinical approach to these disease entities.
