Identification and Assessment of Schlemm's Canal by Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

Abstract

Aqueous outflow structures, including SC and CCs, can be noninvasively assessed in the human eye. These measurements will be useful in physiological studies of AO and will be clinically useful in the determination of the impact of glaucoma therapies on IOP as well as presurgical planning.

Schlemms Canal in OCT Images in Glaucoma Patients and Healthy Subjects

“…Kagemann et al [5] investigated SC using Spectral-domain OCT and found that, in glaucoma patients, SC was smaller than in the controls. They also found that SC was significantly larger on the nasal side than on the temporal one.…”

The Schlemm’s canal is a VEGF-C/VEGFR-3–responsive lymphatic-like vessel

“…It is the final barrier for the AH before returning to systemic circulation, but its specific contribution to AH outflow resistance is unknown (4). Interestingly, glaucoma patients have a smaller SC (9), and agenesis or hypoplasia of the SC has been implicated in primary congenital glaucomas (10)(11)(12)(13). However, it is still unknown whether the SC is a component of the blood or the lymphatic vascular system (1,4,14).…”

Trabecular Meshwork Response to Pressure Elevation in the Living Human Eye

“…The ability to observe alterations in resistance to SC collapse induced by perturbations of smooth muscle has been shown in an animal model 18 . We have demonstrated the ability to non-invasively image the primary aqueous humor outflow system in living human eyes distal to and including SC using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) [19][20][21] . Using this technique, we have demonstrated the ability to quantify the morphometric response of the TM and SC to acute IOP elevation 22 .…”