Immunologic mechanisms involved in viral ocular diseases.

Immunologic responses of the host play a key role in the intensity, duration, and subsequent damage associated with viral ocular diseases. Broadly speaking, the host responds to a particular viral infection by producing antibodies (humoral immunity) and specifically committed lymphocytes (cell-mediated immunity). These specific responders then interact with viral antigens and attract other cells (eg, polymorphonuclear leukocytes) to produce inflammation. These mechanisms act to eliminate free virus, destroy infected cells, and possibly, eliminate cell-to-cell spread of virus. The immune mechanisms operative in the ocular structures are identical to those elsewhere in the body.