The eye: an immunologically privileged organ

Abstract

The purpose is to understand the fundamental immunologic relationships that occur at the ocular level, which are common to the rest of the immune system, but with prevailing ways in silencing the immune response in order to preserve the functional unity. As of an extensive revision of literature, clear immunologic concepts are defined regarding the inactivation ways barriers of the ocular globe, which help to maintain the organ´s functional integrity. Thanks to progress in the knowledge of immuno‐chemestry and cellular study techniques, the essence of the immunity of the ocular tissues can be understood, as well as that of the functional unit defined as the cornea, conjunctive, lachrymal glands, Meibomian glands and eyelids, united by a neutral reflex arch. All of which, to understand that the immunologic system that projects the eye is a system primarily of mechanical barriers and unspecified soluble mediators and mechanism directed towards inhibiting and inflammatory response, which turns it into a privileged organ.