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Abstract #9703 Published in IGR 5-3
Anatomic relationship between lamina cribrosa, intraocular space, and cerebrospinal fluid space
Jonas JB; Berenshtein E; Holbach LInvestigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 2003; 44: 5189-5195
PURPOSE: The lamina cribrosa, as the main structural element of the optic nerve head, forms a pressure barrier between the intraocular space and the retrobulbar space. The function as a pressure barrier may have importance for the pathogenesis of ocular diseases related to intraocular pressure and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure, such as the glaucomas. The purpose of the present study was to examine the anatomical relationship between the lamina cribrosa, the intraocular pressure space, and the retrobulbar cerebrospinal pressure space in eyes with glaucoma. METHODS: The study included 53 globes enucleated because of malignant choroidal melanoma (n = 42) without involvement of the optic nerve (control group) or because of painful absolute secondary angle-closure glaucoma (n = 11; glaucoma group). Anterior-posterior histological sections through the pupil and the optic disc were morphometrically evaluated. RESULTS: In the glaucoma group compared to the control group, the lamina cribrosa was significantly (p < 0.001) thinner, the part of the outer lamina cribrosa surface directly exposed to the pia mater and indirectly exposed to the CSF space was significantly (p = 0.001) wider, and the shortest distance between the intraocular space and the CSF space was significantly (p < 0.001) shorter. The posterior lamina cribrosa surface in direct contact with the pia mater was located close to the optic disc border. CONCLUSIONS: The thickness of the lamina cribrosa and the anatomical relationships between the intraocular space and the CSF space differ significantly between normal and glaucomatous eyes. The findings may be of importance for the pathogenesis of glaucomatous optic neuropathy.
Dr. J.B. Jonas, Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany. jost.jonas@augen.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
Classification:
2.20 Other (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)
