The morphological features of sclera in glaucoma (review)
Korchuganova E.A.
Russian National Research Medical University named after N.I. Pirogov, Moscow

The review is devoted to the anatomical and functional features of the scleral shell of the eye. Sclera is not only a protection the inner ocular structures, it is also involved in the regulation of intraocular pressure. It is directly involved in the outflow of intraocular fluid, both in the main and in the additional (uveoscleral) way. The review describes the structure of the sclera in the norm and glaucomatous lesions. Not only progressive dystrophic changes in the structure of collagen and elastic fibers were found, but also the violation of the standard composition of collagen in the various layers of the sclera with the progression of the disease. Approaches to the development of surgical treatment associated with the features of scleral morphology in glaucoma are presented. Independent studies of sclera thickness by different methods are given in the review, the data of these studies differ from each other. The article presents the works of the authors who studied the involvement of sclera in the outflow of intraocular fluid, both in the main and in additional ways. Due to the fact that the sclera is directly involved in the outflow of the intraocular fluid, the study of its morphological and functional features is very interesting for creating new safe and effective approaches to the treatment of glaucoma.

Key words: glaucoma, uveoscleral outflow, antiglaucomatous operations, sclera, scleral morphology, collector canals, episclera, collagen fibers, elastic fibers.
For citation: Korchuganova E.A. The morphological features of sclera in glaucoma (review) // RMJ. Clinical ophthalmology. 2017. № 4. P. 227–230.