Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. In this disorder, elevated intraocular pressure is the major risk factor for the development and progression of this disease. Elevated intraocular pressure causes death of the retinal ganglion cells in the retina which leads to blindness. Surprisingly, this conceptual foundation is highly reminiscent of similar entrenched views in the field of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) absorption. There are many analogies between the clearance of fluid from the anterior chamber of the eye and the drainage of CSF. There is some support in the literature for this concept and some preliminary data identifying lymphatics in the eye suggest a role for lymphatics in the clearance of aqueous humor. The purpose of this study is to quantify the role of lymphatic vessels in the drainage of extracellular fluid from the anterior chamber of the eye. The manipulation of lymphatic vessels may provide novel treatment strategies to lower intraocular pressure and prevent blindness from glaucoma.