Aqueous Dynamics and Surgical Restoration of the Natural Outflow System

IOP is maintained within a normal range by a dynamic balance between aqueous humor production by the ciliary epithelium and drainage through two pathways the conventional outflow pathway and the uveoscleral pathway. However, the conventional outflow pathway is the major aqueous drainage pathway through which 70–90% of aqueous humor exits and consists of the trabecular meshwork (consisting of the uveal and corneoscleral meshwork beams and the juxtacanalicular connective tissue [JCT] adjacent to Schlemm’s canal), Schlemm’s canal (a circular channel comprised of endothelial cells surrounded by connective tissue), the collector channels, and the episcleral veins (Figure 1).