ANTERIOR CHAMBER

The anterior chamber is a space filled with fluid,

the aqueous humor, it is bordered anteriorly by
the cornea, posteriorly by the iris and the pupil
 Deeper in aphakia, pseudophakia, and myopia
 Shallower in hyperopia

 The anterior chamber angle consists of :

 Schwalbe line
 The Schlemm canal and trabecular meshwork
 Scleral spur
 Anterior border of ciliary body
 Iris
TRABECULAR MESHWORK
 A circular spongework of
connective tissue lined by
trabeculocytes
 Devided into :
 Uveal portion
 Corneoscleral meshwork
 Juxtacanalicular tissue
a. Uveal
meshwork
b. Corneoscleral
meshwork
c. Schwalbe’s
line
d. Schlemm’s
canal
e. Collector
channels
f. Ciliary body
g. Scleral spur
AQUEOUS HUMOR FORMATION
ULTRAFILTRATION
Helps to move fluid out of the
capillaries into stroma

ACTIVE TRANSPORT
Sodium, Chloride, Bicarbonate

DIFUSSION
Movement of a substance across a
membrane along its concentration
gradient
 Aqueous has an excess of hydrogen and chloride
ions, an excess of ascorbate

 Deficit of bicarbonate relative to plasma

 Aqueous humor is essentially protein free 

optical clarity
 The fluid drains chiefly by
the conventional pathway,
partly by the
nontrabecular meshwork
AQUEOUS HUMOR
1. Conventional Pathway
Ciliary epithelium of ciliary body  pupil
aperture  anterior chamber  trabecular
meshwork  Schlemm canal

2. Uveoscleral Pathway
Across ciliary body  supraciliary space
 SCHLEMM’S CANAL

Venous channel with a

lumen, lies deep within
scleral sulcus
Characteristic of inner wall :
‘Giant Vacuoles’
Basal & apical openings of
the vacuoles = Transcellular
Pores
V = Giant Vacuoles
CS = Schlemm’s Canal

Source : Lawrenson JG10

 COLLECTOR CHANNEL, AQUEOUS
VEINS & EPISCLERAL VEINS
Indirect
CC ISVP EV
Channels
CS=canal of Schlemm
S=scleral spur
T=trabecular meshwork
CM=ciliary muscle
CVP=ciliary venous plexus
I=iris C
V
CC=collector channel
ISVP=intrascleral venous
plexus
EV=episcleral vein
AV=aqueous vein Source :
CV=conjunctival vessel Lawrenson
JG10
direct
Channels CC AV EV
INDENTATION GONIOSCOPY
SCHEMATIC VIEW OF GONIOSCOPY
OF THE ANTERIOR CHAMBER
SHAFFER GRADING
SHAFFER METHOD OF GRADING ANTERIOR
CHAMBER ANGLES
Grade IV The angle between the iris and
the surface of the TM is 450
(normal)
Grade III The angle between the iris and the
surface of the TM is greater than 200
but less than 450 (normal)
Grade II The angle between the iris and the
surface of the TM is 200. Angle
closure is possible.
Grade I The angle between the iris and the
surface of the TM is 100. Angle
closure is possible.
Slit The angle between the iris and the
surface of the TM is less than 100.
Angle cllosure very likely.
Grade 0 The iris is against the TM. Angle
closure is present.