If the immune system "finds" or reacts to the eyes, it triggers a complex and highly regulated process because the eyes are an immune-privileged site. This means the eyes have special mechanisms to protect themselves from immune system attacks to preserve vision and avoid damage.
Immune Privilege of the Eyes
The eyes are protected by immune privilege, which involves:
- Physical and chemical barriers like tears that wash away pathogens and contain antimicrobial substances.
- A suppressive environment within the eye that limits inflammation to prevent damaging the delicate eye tissues.
- A limited adaptive immune response , where only certain immune cells are allowed to act within the eye, and others are suppressed or regulated to avoid excessive immune attacks.
What Happens If Immune System Reacts to the Eye
- Trauma or damage to the eye can cause the release of eye antigens, triggering immune system recognition.
- This can lead to immune responses where immune cells attack the eye tissues, potentially causing inflammation and damage.
- Normally, the eye suppresses such immune responses to avoid harm, but if this immune privilege is broken or if there is an autoimmune response, it can result in eye diseases or vision problems.
- Autoimmune attacks on the eye can cause symptoms like redness, pain, sensitivity to light, dry eyes, blurry vision, and even blindness in severe cases.
- There is also a reaction called sympathetic ophthalmia, where trauma to one eye can sensitize the immune system and cause an autoimmune attack on both eyes.
Summary
- The immune system usually does not attack the eyes due to immune privilege mechanisms.
- If the immune system does attack the eyes (due to damage or autoimmune conditions), it can cause inflammation, damage to eye tissues, and vision problems, including blindness.
- The eye has specialized regulation to balance immune protection and prevent harmful inflammation to preserve vision.
