title: Immunomodulation on the ocular surface: a review.
abstract: The increasing understanding of immune mechanisms changed our perception of the ocular surface, which is now considered a compartment of the common mucosal immune system. It offered the possibility to alter the physiological immune response on the ocular surface and effectively combat inflammation, which impairs stability of the tear film and causes tear hyperosmolarity, causing symptoms of dry eye disease. The paper provides an overview of ocular surface anatomy and physiology, explains the underlying mechanisms of dry eye disease and discusses novel and promising treatment modalities, such as cyclosporine A, biological therapies using autologous serum and various growth factors as well as experimental treatment methods which are currently being investigated.
authors.affiliation: SPKSO Ophthalmic University Hospital, Warsaw, Poland; Information Optics Department, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ambroziak
authors.affiliation: SPKSO Ophthalmic University Hospital, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szaflik
authors.affiliation: SPKSO Ophthalmic University Hospital, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Szaflik
authors.affiliation: First Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ambroziak
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Clinic "Twoje OKO", Przemyśl, Poland.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Witkiewicz
authors.affiliation: SPKSO Ophthalmic University Hospital, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Histology and Embryology Centre of Biostructure, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skopiński
keywords: dry eye disease; ocular surface; topical cyclosporin; topical immunomodulation