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trabecular meshwork

The trabecular meshwork is a porous network that has interconnected channels and is located in the ocular wall located between the cornea and iris.

The trabecular meshwork is responsible for draining the aqueous humor, a very liquid substance found in the anterior pole of the eye, to keep the Intraocular pressure

Obstruction of the trabecular meshwork can cause abnormal accumulation of aqueous humor and, consequently, significantly increase intraocular pressure.

En Área Oftalmológica Avanzada We explain below what is the trabecular meshwork. 

What is the trabecular meshwork?

The trabecular network is a porous tissue that has interconnected channels that serve to drain the aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye to the Schelemm canal and, finally, to the blood.

Two fluids circulate in the eye, the aqueous humor and the vitreous humor. Aqueous humor is the substance found in the anterior part of the eye.

Some types of glaucoma they are caused by a defect in the aqueous humor drainage system that, as a consequence, increases intraocular pressure. 

Parts that make it up

The trabecular meshwork is composed of three parts: 

Internal Uveal Network

It is the tissue closest to the anterior chamber and the one that forms the trabeculae, partitions that are responsible for separating the collecting spaces from the aqueous humor.

This network is made up of pigmented cells called trabeculocites.

Corneoclearal network 

The corneoscleral trabeculum is located between the ubeal and the juxtacanalicular. As in the internal uveal network, it is made up of laminae, but these are distributed in a circular fashion.

juxtacanalicular or cribriform network

It is the area of ​​the trabecular meshwork that is close to Schelemm's canal. This network is a very thin tissue and is made up of a single layer of elongated cells. It is an elastic fabric due to its high elastin content.

Functions of the trabecular network

The main function of the trabecular meshwork is to drain the aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to the Schelemm canal. Subsequently the fluid circulates through the Schelemm channel to the blood. 

Trabecular tissue is responsible for draining between 90% and 95% of all aqueous humor present in the eye.

The remaining percentage is drained through the uvea, a layer of capillaries under the sclera.

Diseases that affect the trabecular meshwork

Any failure in the structure or functioning of the trabecular meshwork can generate the accumulation of aqueous humor in the eye and alter intraocular pressure levels.

This problem in the drainage system is associated with a type of glaucoma known as open-angle glaucoma.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma It is an eye disease caused by the increase in intraocular pressure that is causing the progressive optic nerve damage.

If glaucoma is not treated in time, the optic nerve begins to present problems to send the electrical impulses to the brain and compromises the vision. 

Open-angle glaucoma is caused by obstruction of the trabecular meshwork with scar tissue, pigments, lymphocytes, erythrocytes or other agents. 

Glaucoma has no cure, but currently there are treatments that help control intraocular pressure levels to take care of the health of the optic nerve and prevent total vision loss such as glaucoma operation, minimally invasive glaucoma operation or the canaloplasty glaucoma operation. The technique in these surgeries has evolved a lot and the postoperative glaucoma surgery nowadays it is usually fast and safe.

Do you need more information or arrange a visit to the ophthalmologist? Contact us in Área Oftalmológica Avanzada and we will attend you as soon as possible!

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Trabecular mesh
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Trabecular mesh
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The trabecular meshwork is an ocular structure whose main function is the drainage of aqueous humor. We tell you what it is and its parts.
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Área Oftalmológica Avanzada
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