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Introduction

The human eye is a complex organ divided into anterior and posterior sections, with distinct fluid-filled chambers that play a crucial role in maintaining eye health. Intraocular pressure (IOP) is a key factor in eye disorders, particularly glaucoma, which affects approximately 70 million people globally and is a leading cause of blindness. The IOP in a healthy eye ranges from 10 to 21 mm Hg, while elevated levels above 22 mm Hg are associated with glaucoma, which is projected to increase significantly by 2040.

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Andre Akbar m
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4 views

Introduction

The human eye is a complex organ divided into anterior and posterior sections, with distinct fluid-filled chambers that play a crucial role in maintaining eye health. Intraocular pressure (IOP) is a key factor in eye disorders, particularly glaucoma, which affects approximately 70 million people globally and is a leading cause of blindness. The IOP in a healthy eye ranges from 10 to 21 mm Hg, while elevated levels above 22 mm Hg are associated with glaucoma, which is projected to increase significantly by 2040.

Uploaded by

Andre Akbar m
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction

The human eye is one of the most complex and sensitive organs of the body. It is the most
extensively used sensory organ and falls under the category of “human features with unusual
anatomy and physiology”. These factors along with a bunch of others make the ophthalmic drug
delivery system the most interesting and challenging one. The internal structure of the human eye is
divided into two distinct sections, namely the anterior and the posterior section. (Fig. 1) [1] The
anterior section, in turn, comprises of the anterior and the posterior chamber. It is a pure division of
the eyeball length into its composite halves. While the space from Cornea to the Iris make up the
anterior chamber, which from the Iris to the Lens constitute the posterior chamber. Although both
are fluid filled, the anterior chamber is filled with aqueous humour while the posterior chamber,
because of its proximity to the optic nerves, is filled with vitreous humour. Aqueous humour, a
transparent watery fluid secreted by the ciliary epithelium present in the anterior chamber, provides
nutrition to the lens and cornea [2,3] Aqueous humour flows from posterior chamber to the anterior
chamber through the trabecular meshwork, a spongy tissue located around the base of the cornea
and then drains into canal of Schlemm. The clear fluid then finally drains into the venous system
which constitutes intrascleral, episcleral and lastly conjunctival veins [4,5]. The whole process, thus,
constitutes the drainage system of the eye and if this drainage system is completely or partially
blocked, there is an increase in the pressure inside the eye.

This pressure inside the eye is termed as intraocular pressure (IOP). The increase in the IOP can lead
to various disorders in the eye. The measurement of the eye pressure is called tonometry and the
instrument used to measure is called tonometer [6]. The IOP of a healthy human eye ranges from 10
to 21 mm Hg [7]. In diseased state, the range varies from 5 to 40 mm Hg [8].

One of the major risk factors in glaucoma is an elevated IOP (above 22 mm Hg), although it is not the
only indicator [9]. Approximately, 70 million people are suffering from glaucoma worldwide with
10% being bilaterally blind [10]. The main reason which contributes to blindness in the United States
is glaucoma [11]. It is recorded that more than 2 million people currently suffer from glaucoma in the
United States among which 80,000 have become completely or partially blind [12]. The statistics
show that, by 2020 United States will have more than 3 million people suffering from glaucoma and
it is reported that by the year 2040, it will increase to 111 million people [10,13].

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