Schlemm Canal

Schlemm canal

The Schlemm canal is a tiny, circular channel found at the edge of the front part of the eye. It runs all the way around where the iris and cornea meet and collects the clear fluid called aqueous humor. This fluid is produced inside the eye and needs to drain out to keep pressure inside the eye steady. The canal works with a sponge-like structure called the trabecular meshwork to let fluid leave the eye and flow into small veins. Because it sits between the eye’s drainage tissues and the blood vessels on the outer surface of the eye, it acts like a gateway for outflow. If the canal or the meshwork become blocked or stiff, fluid can’t escape as well and pressure inside the eye can rise. High pressure is the main risk factor for a common eye disease that can damage the optic nerve and lead to vision loss. Doctors sometimes target the canal with medicines, laser treatments, or tiny surgeries to improve fluid drainage and lower pressure. Researchers also study how the canal’s cells and surrounding tissues change with age and disease so they can develop better treatments. Understanding how this little channel works is important because keeping fluid flow normal helps protect sight over a lifetime.