Studies on the Etiology of Glaucoma Part 4. On the Effector Organs in Eyeball

From these experimental results, the author has reached the following conclusion: The choroid possesses abundant blood vessels, and inasmuch as they carry a large amount of blood on account of their large tubular space, they also have such structural formation as to enable their distension or contraction greatly to influence the volume of intraocular contents. Moreover, as the autonomic nerves distributed in the eye are connected with the wall of vessels in a compact network of nerve fibers, the width of the choroidal vessel can be regulated by the autonomic center ; and thus the intraocular pressure seems to be regulated by an increase or a decrease in the amount of intraocular circulating blood. On the other hand, the ciliary body likewise seems to take a part in the adjustment of the eyepressure as the width of vessels, the permeability of blood vessel walls, and the aqueous production are all controlled by the autonomic nerve, and because the contraction of ciliary muscles, as already mentioned, also exerts a great influence on the intraocular pressure. Therefore, the author believes that a regional adjustment of eye pressure is being performed by these mechanisms, working as they are in conjunction with each other, and maintaining a harmonious relation among themselves under the control of the autonomic center.