Laser burn injuries in one eye can affect immune privilege in both eyes, according to study

Boston-A laser burn to one retina can cause both eyes to lose immune privilege, according to scientists at Schepens Eye Research Institute.

This finding suggests a previously unknown communication between the two eyes.

"This deepens our understanding of the way immune privilege works," said Joan Stein-Streilein, PhD, principal investigator of the study and senior scientist at Schepens Eye Research Institute.

Stein-Streilein and her team made tiny laser burns in one of the retinas of 15 mice. An antigen was injected in either the burned or the unburned eyes of each mouse. It was found that immune privilege was disrupted after 6 hours and continued to be disrupted even after 56 days.

The next steps for the team will be to study the mechanisms that allow for communication between the injured and non-injured eye.