Main description:

This selection of articles from the Encyclopedia of the Eye provides a comprehensive overview of immunological features, diseases and inflammation of the eye and its support structures and organs. Rather than taking an immunological focus that is strictly suitable for clinicians, the volume offers a considerable basic science background and addresses a broad range of topics - the immune system of the eye, its various disorders, mechanisms of inflammation of the eye and visual system, treatment, wound healing mechanisms, stem cells, and more.

Contents:

I. Regulation of the Immune Response of the Eye and Its Dysregulation in Inflammation and Infection Adaptive Immune System and the Eye: Mucosal Immunity Adaptive immune system and the eye: T-cell mediated immunity Innate immune system and the eye Defense mechanisms of tears and ocular surface Role of complement in the ocular immune response Immunoregulatory processes that sustain immune privilege in the eye Immunosupressive and anti-inflammatory molecules that maintain immune previlege of the eye Antigen-presenting cells in the eye and ocular surface Regenfus and Cursiefen- Angiogenesis in the eye Dry eye: An immune-based inflammation Penetrating keratoplasty Corneal epithelium- response to infection Immunopathogenesis of HSV Keratitis Immunopathogenesis of Onchocerciasis (River Blindness) Immunopathogenesis of pseudomonas keratitis Immunobiology of acanthomeba karatitis Pathogenesis of fungal keratitis Molecular and cellular mechanisms in allergic conjunctivitis Conjunctiva Immune surveillance Inflammation of the Conjunctiva Immunopathogenesis of experimental uveitic diseases Pathogenesis of Uveitis in humans Immunobiology of uveal melanoma Immunobiology of age-related macular degeneration Pathogenesis and Immunology of Bacterial endophthalmitis

II. Angiogenesis in the Eye and Its Dysfunction in the Retina, Cornea and Vitreous Orbiatl vascular anatomy Developmental anatomy of retinal and choroidal vasculature Development of the retinal vasculature Physiological Anatomy of the retinal vasculature Physiological anatomy of the choroidal vasculature Properties and functions of the vessels of the ciliary body Anatomy and regulation of the optic nerve blood flow Angiogenesis in response to hypoxia Angiogenesis and inflammation Angiogenesis in wound healing Hemangiogenesis versus lymphangiogenesis Innate immunity and angiogenesis Mechanisms of Angiostasis Stability and functional integrity of new blood vessels Vessel regression Blood-retinal barrier Breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier Retinal pigment epithelium barrier Breakdown of the retinal pigement epithelium blood-retinal barrier Retinal pigment epithelial-choroid interactions Macular edema Central vein occlusion Pathological retinal angiogenesis Proliferative vitreoretinopathy Choroidal neovascularization The vascular stem cell Concept of Angiogenic Privilege Corneal angiogenesis Avascularity of the cornea Anti-angiogenic properties of vitreous