The impact of circadian rhythms on retinal immunity

The eye is an immune-protected organ, which is driven by factors such as cytokines, chemicals, light, and mechanical stimuli. The circadian clock is an intrinsic timing mechanism that influences the immune activities, such as immune cell count and activity, as well as inflammatory responses. Recent studies have demonstrated that the eye also possesses an intrinsic circadian rhythm, and this rhythmic regulation participates in ocular immune modulation. In this review, we discuss the immunoregulatory mechanisms of the circadian clock within the eye, and reveal new perspectives for the prevention and treatment of ocular diseases.