Flow of 'aqueous humour' in the eye

Flow of Aqueous Humour in the eye

Aqueous humour is produced behind the iris by the ciliary body.

It flows through the pupil and drains away at the angle between the cornea and iris (the drainage angle).

Outflow of aqueous humour through the drainage angle

Outflow of aqueous humour through the drainage angle

Within the drainage angle, the aqueous humour passes through a porous tissue 

– the trabecular meshwork – into a collector channel (Schlemm’s canal), which empties into veins under the conjunctiva and thus back into the bloodstream.

Most of the aqueous humour leaves the eye through the trabecular meshwork. This is called the conventional outflow pathway.

Uveo-scleral outflow of aqueous humour

However, some aqueous humour also leaves the eye through the ciliary body. This is called the uveo-scleral or non-conventional outflow pathway.