Aqueous Humour: Functions, Eye Pressure and Glaucoma Assessment

If you have healthy and well-nourished eyes, thank the aqueous humour. Almost nobody talks much about this watery fluid and its contribution to maintaining good eye health is never praised enough. As the name suggests aqueous means relating to water and humor is a traditional Latin word that describes some bodily secretion. 

Our eyes produce a tiny amount of aqueous humor all the time which drains out or flows from a small structure that we know as the trabecular meshwork. And that is proved by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. We can not see the aqueous humour but its resemblance is that of blood plasma in composition. 

More on Aqueous Humour and its Location

The aqueous humour looks very much like plasma and is a thin and transparent fluid. Its home is between the cornea and the lens. It is made up of water (99.9%) it is pure water, and necessary nutrients (0.1%), all of which are necessary for healthy eyes.

We know eyes have three chambers of the eye: the anterior chamber, and the posterior chamber. While the vitreous chamber sits in the back of the eye, the anterior lies between the cornea and the iris. The frontal part, the space between the iris and lens has the posterior chamber. The aqueous humour is spread evenly in the first two chambers.

What is the job of Aqueous Humour?

Do you ever think how well nourished your eyes are and that’s because the aqueous humour is doing that for you? Let’s look at some of the amazing work this fluid does for our eyes:

1. Nurture intraocular pressure (fluid pressure in the eye) and eye shape.
2. Carries Vitamin C in the frontal part that acts as an antioxidant agent
3. Helps cornea inflate to protect from dust, grains, wind, etc.
4. Nourish the cornea and the lens by supplying amino acids and glucose.
5. Ensures the optical physics and health of the eye.

How does the aqueous humour do its work?

We know that aqueous humour has a responsibility to maintain the pressure and the shape of the eye. But how is the pressure maintained? It is possible only when the aqueous fluid enters and leaves the eye in the same amount. The aqueous humour supplies all the necessary nutrients to the structures in the eye that do not get a direct blood supply, including the lens. It also drains waste from these structures.

Without being too technical or making it hard for you, the aqueous humour is produced by the ciliary body at all times. This is located in the anterior chamber near the lens. As mentioned above, the work balance is maintained by an equal rate of production and drainage. 

Changes in aqueous production or drainage can affect intraocular pressure, but a pressure change does not automatically mean glaucoma or optic-nerve damage. Glaucoma assessment requires clinical interpretation and may include optic-nerve and visual-field testing.

Aqueous humour care tips

The best way to keep the aqueous humour healthy is by taking care of the eyes in general. While there is no direct way to take care of the aqueous humor, some important ways are mentioned below:

1. Having eyes regularly checked: One important way to ensure you have healthily functioning aqueous humour is by getting regular visits to your ophthalmologist. Even when everything seems fine, sometimes that might not be the case. So, you must get the structure of your eyes checked for possible diseases. 

Normally, a person must have their eyes tested every 1-2 years. That however differs according to specific people, their present health conditions, and what their eye doctor has recommended.

2. A balanced and healthy diet: Eating a diet full of healthy nutrients can benefit overall health and that goes for the eyes too. With good food, your body is on the right track and functions properly. Certain foods even help to reduce the risk of cataracts.

Harvard Health states that vitamins, A, C, E, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids will promote good eye health.

3. Regular exercise: It is not necessary to whine about what exercise does to the body. If you exercise regularly including cardio, chances are you are less likely to catch cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes, which also can affect the eyes. So, the better the exercise, the better the eye health you have.
4. Quit smoking: If you smoke, you have a higher chance of getting cataracts than someone who doesn’t like smoking. So, if you smoke, think of your eyes and your overall health. 
5. Avoid eye strain: Exposing your eyes to the screen for a longer time means damaging them slowly. Give your eyes a break from the screen often. 

Does age affect aqueous humour’s health?

Age does not decrease the quality of the aqueous humour’s health. However, the trabecular meshwork which drains the aqueous humour may be affected by age. 

Age can affect drainage structures and glaucoma risk, but this relationship varies between individuals. Age or pressure alone cannot establish a diagnosis.

How are aqueous-humour and eye-pressure problems managed?

Raised eye pressure is an important glaucoma risk factor, but pressure alone does not prove optic-nerve damage and glaucoma can also occur at lower pressures. Proper assessment may require optic-nerve evaluation, visual-field testing and other ophthalmic investigations.

When treatment is needed, an ophthalmologist may consider prescription eye drops, laser procedures or surgery according to glaucoma type, severity, target pressure and individual risk. Vision Concern does not provide glaucoma surgery and should not be presented as a substitute for specialist ophthalmic care.

What causes poor drainage of aqueous humour?

The poor drainage problem of the aqueous humour is often due to the trabecular meshwork. This is a spongy tissue that lies near the cornea, where the aqueous humour drains out. The trabecular meshwork problems are often related to age. 

With age, a person’s eyes may accumulate extracellular material in the trabecular meshwork. That affects the drainage of the aqueous humour. That said, the problem might also be seen in younger patients. If a person is born with abnormal development of the meshwork, it leads to issues with the drainage of the aqueous humour. 

Difference between aqueous humour and vitreous humour 

That said, their roles and locations within the ocular structure are totally different. Here are some of their main differences:

Conclusion

Aqueous humour supports the front of the eye and contributes to intraocular pressure. Concerns about eye pressure or glaucoma require professional assessment rather than symptom-based self-diagnosis.

Eye pressure and glaucoma assessment in Kathmandu

Vision Concern Eye Clinic and Optical provides eye examinations including intraocular pressure checks at Lazimpat, Boudha-Tushal and Makalbari. View comprehensive eye examination information or contact Vision Concern by WhatsApp
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FAQs

1. Is aqueous humour like blood?

Ans: The Aqueous Humour present in the eye resembles blood plasma in composition. However, the protein and glucose are lesser and there is more lactic acid and ascorbic acid. The humour provides essential nutrients and oxygen to the eye tissues which do not get direct blood supply like the lens. It is also responsible for removing its waste products.

2. Can tonometry diagnose an aqueous-humour disorder or glaucoma?

Ans: Tonometry measures intraocular pressure. It does not directly show the “health” of aqueous humour and cannot diagnose or exclude glaucoma by itself. Results must be interpreted with the rest of the eye examination.

3. How fast is aqueous humour produced in the eye?

Ans: Production and turnover vary with physiology and time of day. Exact rates are mainly relevant in clinical or research contexts and do not provide a home measure of eye health.