CHAMBERS AND

FLUIDS
INNER CHAMBERS AND FLUIDS
 LENS
• Transparent, avascular,
bicovex structure

• Contributes to the refractive

power of the eye

• Deprived of nerves

• Found in the anterior cavity of

the eye

• Connected to the ciliary body

via suspensory ligament
 Parts of a Lens
1. Lens capsule

• membrane surrounding the lens

• composed of type IV collagen fibers and

glycosaminoglycan

• Very elastic

2. Lens epithelium

• a simple cuboidal epithelium

• found only on the anterior pole between the

lens capsule and lens fibers

• The epithelial cells regulate the homeostatic

functions of the lens , including  transport of
fluid and ions from the aqueous humor

• act as progenitor for the lens fibers.

 Parts of a Lens
3. Lens fibers/Lamellae

• Thin, long and transparent

fibers

• Enable the lens to change

the focal length of the eye
by changing curvature and
focusing on objects at
different distances
(accommodation)

• RI- 1.40
 Anterior Segment

• Composed of two chambers

–Anterior – between the cornea and the iris
–Posterior – between the iris and the lens
• Aqueous humor
–A plasmalike fluid that fills the anterior
segment
–Drains via the canal of Schlemm
• Supports, nourishes, and removes wastes
Anterior Segment
AQUEOUS FLOW
 AQUEOUS HUMOR
• Produced by the ciliary process

• Secreted in the anterior and posterior chamber of the eye

• Transparent, gelatinous similar to plasma except that it

has:

• Higher concentration of ascorbic ate, pyruvate and

lactate

• Lower concentration of protein, urea and glucose

 AQUEOUS HUMOR

• Volume of aqueous in the anterior chamber : 0.25 ml

• Volume of aqueous in the posterior chamber : 0.06ml

• RI : 1.33
 Functions of Aqueous

1. Maintains IOP

2. Provides Nutrition to avascular lens and cornea

3. Optical transparency

4. Place of lymph that is absent in eyeball

 Aqueous Drainage

Drainage pathway is divided into 3

systems:

1. Trabecular/conventional/pressure
dependent (90%)

2. Uveoscleral/unconventional/
extracanalicular/pressure-
dependent (10%)

3. Iris outflow (<1%)

 VITREOUS HUMOR
• Transparent, gelatinous humor in the posterior cavity of the
eye

• Avascular gel

• Not attached to the retina except at the optic disk posteriorly

and ora errata anteriorly

• Produced by the non-pigment cells of the ciliary body during

intrauterine life

• The cells that producing the vitreous humour degenerates

after birth
 Composition of the VH
1. Water: 98-99%

2. Cellular components: phagocytes and hyalocytes

3. Collagen: collagen type II and vitrocin

4. Proteins: small amount

5. Salt and sugar

6. Glycosaminoglycan hyaluronic acid:

 Functions of the VH

1. Inflate the eyeball

2. Keep the retina on place by pushing it to the choroid

3. Contribute to the refractive power the eye with RI of 1.34

Intraocular Pressure (IOP)

• Pressure exerted by intraocular fluids on the coats of the

eyeball

• Normal value: 10-21mmHg

 Influencing Factors
1. Long term: Heredity, age, sex, race, refractive error

2. Short term:

General:

Posture: increased in supine position, highly

increased in head down position

Exercise: decreased in aerobic exertise, increased in

isometric exercise
 Influencing Factors
Systemic

Food/Drugs:

Alcohol, fat-free diet, vasodilators, heroin and mints -

LOWERS IOP

Water, caffein, steroids and mydriatics - INCREASES

IOP

General Anesthesia: lowers IOP except Ketamine