Scientists discover hidden drainage route at the back of the eye
Scientists have identified a previously unknown lymphatic drainage pathway at the back of the eye, termed the posterior ocular lymphatic outflow (POLO) pathway. This discovery challenges long-held medical beliefs and offers a potential new target for treating conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration.
Why it matters
This breakthrough could lead to revolutionary new therapies for preventing irreversible blindness by managing fluid accumulation in the eye.
Home News World Sports Entertainment Science Royal Trending Health Videos Technology Scientists discover hidden drainage route at the back of the eye Mouse study finds fluid from the back of the eye drains into the lymphatic system, a new lead on glaucoma
Within minutes of being placed at the back of a mouse's eye, fluorescent tracers reached nearby lymph nodes. The result points to a drainage route scientists did not know existed, and it challenges a belief held for more than a century.
This posterior ocular lymphatic outflow (POLO) pathway has been identified by scientists at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of Toronto.
It seems that it is responsible for the transfer of fluids and waste from behind the retina into the lymphatic system of the body. The research has been conducted on mice and published in Translational Vision Science & Technology.
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