Lamina cribrosa sclerae
- The fibers comprising the optic nerve exit the eyeball through a opening in the sclera in its posterior aspect.
- This opening is is covered by a mesh – lamina cribrosa sclerae
- The mesh is composed of bundles of collagen fibers with pores in between
- The optic nerve fibers pass through the pores in the lamina cribrosa
- Lamina cribrosa helps to maintain the pressure difference between the eye and the extraocular tissue
- When the intraocular pressure increases as in glaucoma, the lamina cribrosa is pushed posteriorly and compression on optic nerve fibers and blood vessels can occur due to alteration in the pore architecture
