It’s often said that the eyes are the window to the soul, but we might also think of them as a doorway to medical breakthroughs. That’s because the eye is one of a few sites in the body with something called "immune privilege.” Immune privilege is the body’s way of limiting aggressive immune responses in critical, delicate organs like the eyes and the brain. Because swelling or inflammation in these areas could cause permanent damage or loss of function, these tissues suppress normal immune reactions to protect themselves. In most parts of the body — like your skin — the immune system triggers intense inflammation, swelling and heat to fight off infections or heal wounds. However, sensitive tissues — specifically the eyes and brain — do not regenerate easily or tolerate swelling. Immune privilege prevents the body’s natural defenses from causing “collateral damage” to essential structures, such as maintaining a clear cornea for vision or neural pathways for thinking.
