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Inflammation the good and the bad
Author(s) -
Calonge M.,
Herreras J.M.,
Stern M.E.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2016.0181
Subject(s) - conjunctiva , cornea , meibomian gland , inflammation , medicine , eyelid , ophthalmology , pathology , immunology
Summary Inflammation at the ocular surface is the most commonly encountered pathology in Ophthalmology, irrespective of age, gender, race or geographical area. Inflammation in the form of primary keratitis of any origin represents a real threat for visual loss. The commonest way though to eventually have a vision‐threatening corneal problem is as a consequence of an inflammatory process initiated in the eyelid margin (i.e. meibomitis), in the conjunctiva (i.e. conjunctivitis that eventually develop into kerato‐conjunctivitis) or Dry Eye Disease (DED). DED serves as an example which explains the role of the lacrimal functional unit (LFU). The LFU, initially defined in 1988 and later expanded, comprises the ocular surface (cornea, conjunctiva, limbus, and tear film), all tear‐producing glands and cells (lacrimal glands, mucus producing system and Meibomian glands) and all the neuro‐hormonal controlling interactions. Thus, the LFU is a crucial concept to understand how inflammation in a tissue not belonging to the optic system (i.e. eyelids or conjunctiva) may end up causing visual disability by involving the visual axis in the cornea. Examples of inflammation in the LFU as well as their deleterious consequences will be presented.