Ocular Inflammation and Autoimmunity
1University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
2Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy
3Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
4University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
5University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
Ocular Inflammation and Autoimmunity
Description
The dysregulation of the immune system can lead to severe ocular inflammation. The entire globe can be involved, from the anterior segment to the posterior segment. Traditionally, anterior segment involvement is related to a better visual outcome. The early identification of signs and symptoms is a leading point for a prompt and correct management of these patients. Recently, the diffusion of new diagnostic tools, such as swept source optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCT-A), has improved the diagnosis of ocular inflammation. Cytokine profiling of aqueous humour samples is another rising field with relevant impact on diagnosis and management of uveitis. Understanding disease mechanisms and how this can be applied in order to plan therapies is of great importance.
Treating patients affected by ocular inflammation has been considered challenging by many ophthalmologists; topical and systemic steroids were the main treatment reserved, but the use of immunosuppressive agents and the introduction of biologic drugs have changed the prognosis of these cases. Early recognition together with a correct diagnosis and treatment of these patients could reduce the incidence of severe ocular complications. The cooperation of ophthalmologists, rheumatologists, and immunologists represents a must-have for the successful care of uveitis patients. However, despite these advances in diagnosis and treatment, many issues still need to be addressed to avoid visual impairment in patients affected by ocular inflammation.
This Special Issue aims to collect high quality research and review papers that address diagnosis, management, and treatment of ocular inflammation. We encourage authors to send papers regarding all aspects of ocular inflammation from the ocular surface to the posterior segment of the eye.
Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:
- Uveitis management and diagnosis
- Rational approaches to investigating the role of imaging in early diagnosis of ocular inflammation (such as swept source OCT or OCT-A)
- Imaging and its role in helping understand diseases and monitor responses to therapy
- Autoimmunity and ocular inflammation, a combined management
- Cytokine profiling
- Immunosuppressive agents and uveitis treatment
- Masquerade syndrome
- Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease
- Diagnostic biomarkers
- Multimodal Imaging