Exhibit 5.1

[Letterhead of Burns & Levinson LLP]

April 1, 2016

EyeGate Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

271 Waverley Oaks Road, Suite 108

Waltham, Massachusetts 02452

Re:

Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to EyeGate Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to the registration of up to $100,000,000 of any combination of (i) common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company, (ii) preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”), (iii) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities or Units (as defined below ) (“Warrants”) (iv) debt securities of the Company (“Debt Securities”) or (v) units comprised of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities and Warrants in any combination (“Units”). The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, Debt Securities and Units are sometimes referred to collectively herein as the “Securities.” Securities may be issued in an unspecified number (with respect to Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants and Units) or in an unspecified principal amount (with respect to Debt Securities). The Registration Statement provides that the Securities may be offered separately or together, in separate series, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more prospectus supplements (each a “Prospectus Supplement”) to the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement.

We have examined such documents, instruments, certificates and records, and made such examination of law as we have deemed appropriate to give the opinions set forth below. We have relied, without independent verification, on certificates of public officials and, as to matters of fact material to the opinions set forth below, on certificates of officers of the Company.

In such examination, we have assumed:

the authenticity of original documents and the genuineness of all signatures;

the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies;

the truth, accuracy and completeness of the information, representations and warranties contained in the records, documents, instruments and certificates we have reviewed;

that the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), will have become effective under the Securities Act and will comply with all applicable laws;

EyeGate Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

April 1, 2016

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that the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will be effective and will comply with all applicable laws at the time the Securities are offered or issued as contemplated by the Registration Statement;

that a Prospectus Supplement will have been filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby and will comply with all applicable laws at the time the Securities are offered or issued as contemplated by the Registration Statement;

that all Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement;

that the offer, issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities will not violate any applicable law or result in a violation of any provision of any instrument or agreement then binding upon the Company or any restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company;

that a definitive underwriting, purchase or similar agreement with respect to any Securities offered will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; and

at the time the Securities are offered or issued as contemplated by the Registration Statement, all corporate or other action required to be taken by the Company to duly authorize each proposed issuance of Securities and any related documentation shall have been duly completed and shall remain in full force and effect.

For purposes of the opinions set forth below, without limiting any other exceptions or qualifications set forth herein, we have assumed that after the issuance of any Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, the total number of issued shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, together with the total number of shares of such stock issuable upon the exercise, exchange, conversion or settlement, as the case may be, of any exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security (including without limitation any Unit), as the case may be, then outstanding, will not exceed the total number of authorized shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, under the Company’s restated certificate of incorporation, as then in effect (the “Charter”).

For purposes of the opinions set forth below, we refer to the following as the “Future Authorization and Issuance” of Securities:

•

with respect to any of the Securities, (a) the authorization by the Company of the amount, terms and issuance of such Securities (the “Authorization”) and (b) the issuance of such Securities in accordance with the Authorization therefor upon the receipt by the Company of the consideration (which, in the case of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, is not less than the par value of such shares) to be paid therefor in accordance with the Authorization;

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April 1, 2016

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•

with respect to Preferred Stock, (a) the establishment of the terms of such Preferred Stock by the Company in conformity with the Charter and applicable law and (b) the execution, acknowledgement and filing with the Delaware Secretary of State, and the effectiveness of, a certificate of designations to the Charter setting forth the terms of such Preferred Stock in accordance with the Charter and applicable law;

•

with respect to Debt Securities, (a) the authorization, execution and delivery of the indenture or a supplemental indenture relating to such Securities by the Company and the trustee thereunder and/or (b) the establishment of the terms of such Securities by the Company in conformity with the applicable indenture or supplemental indenture and applicable law, and (c) the execution, authentication and issuance of such Securities in accordance with the applicable indenture or supplemental indenture and applicable law; and

•

with respect to Warrants or Units, (a) the authorization, execution and delivery by the Company and the other parties thereto of any agreement under which such Securities are to be issued and (b) the establishment of the terms of such Securities, and the execution and delivery of such Securities, in conformity with any applicable agreement under which such Securities are to be issued and applicable law.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the additional qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that:

Upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of shares of Common Stock, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

Upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of shares of Preferred Stock, such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

Upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of Warrants, such Warrants will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

Upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of Debt Securities, such Debt Securities will be valid and binding obligations of the Company.

Upon the Future Authorization and Issuance of Units, such Units will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

The opinions expressed above are subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and to general principles of equity.

EyeGate Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

April 1, 2016

Page 4

We express no opinion herein as to the effect or applicability of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the federal laws of the United States of America, the laws of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (including all applicable provisions of the Delaware constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or the Delaware constitution). This opinion is limited to the laws referred to above as in effect on the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to advise you as a result of developments occurring after the date hereof or as a result of facts or circumstances brought to our attention after the date hereof.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the above-referenced Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement and the prospectus that forms a part thereof. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder or Item 509 of Regulation S-K.

Very truly yours,

/s/ BURNS & LEVINSON LLP

BURNS & LEVINSON LLP