Glossary

Ciliary Body

The ciliary body is found behind the iris and produced aqueous humour. 

But as well as producing aqueous, it also allows aqueous to drain away through the non conventional drainage pathway, which is otherwise known as uveo-scleral outflow.

The ciliary body also forms part of the support structure of the lens.

Apart from its function in producing aqueous humour, the ciliary body can, in some people, cause the iris to be pushed forward to such an extent that it comes into contact with the trabecular meshwork, thereby causing a form of chronic angle closure glaucoma. This is known as plateau iris configuration.

Because of its function within the eye, the ciliary body can form part of the treatment of glaucoma by laser this is called laser ciliary body ablation.