Lamina cribrosa

Lamina Cribrosa is a part of the human eye that plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. It is a sieve-like structure located at the back of the eye, through which the retinal ganglion cell axons exit the eye to form the optic nerve.

Anatomy

The lamina cribrosa is a part of the sclera, the white outer coating of the eye. It is located at the optic nerve head, the point where the optic nerve leaves the eye. The lamina cribrosa is a porous, mesh-like structure composed of connective tissue and is approximately 0.3 mm thick. It contains approximately 200-300 individual pores, through which the axons of the retinal ganglion cells pass.

Function

The primary function of the lamina cribrosa is to provide structural support for the retinal ganglion cell axons as they exit the eye. It also plays a role in maintaining the pressure gradient between the intraocular and retrobulbar spaces, which is important for the normal functioning of the optic nerve.

Role in Glaucoma

In glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure can cause deformation and remodeling of the lamina cribrosa, leading to damage to the retinal ganglion cell axons. This damage is believed to be a major cause of the progressive vision loss seen in glaucoma. Recent research has focused on understanding the biomechanics of the lamina cribrosa in glaucoma, with the aim of developing new treatments to prevent or slow down the progression of the disease.

See Also

• Glaucoma
• Optic nerve
• Retinal ganglion cell
• Sclera