The outer retina and choroid are rich in traditional and non-traditional immune cells. We are increasingly understanding that their role is extending beyond response to sterile inflammation or infection. The interaction of Type II cytokines (IL4, 13) as well as other inflammasome enabled cytokines (IL-33), are in consort with myeloid cells (Microglia and monocytes) to in turn inhibit Type II cytokine reponses, such as fibrosis or angiogenesis. An emerging notion is that intracellular cytokine activation regulates and acts as a checkpoint inhibiting aerobic glycolysis and maintaining mitochondrial health and thus cell survival. This is pertinent to chronic insidiious degenerative conditions such as AMD where immune activation is a positive response to ensure cell survival.