What is the Anterior Chamber?
The eye’s anterior chamber is located between the iris and the innermost corneal surface.¹ It is filled with fluid called aqueous humor that is secreted by the ciliary body.²
Several conditions result from a dysfunctional anterior chamber (typically caused by fluid drainage issues) like glaucoma and hyphema.³
Key Takeaways
- The anterior chamber is one of three fluid-filled spaces in the eye, located between the iris and the cornea.
- The anterior chamber allows fluid to flow to the eye to carry out vital functions.
- Disruptions to the fluid that flows from the anterior chamber can lead to visual complications.
Understanding the Anterior Chamber
There are three fluid-filled chambers of the eye.
- The anterior chamber (between the cornea and the iris and filled with aqueous humor)⁴
- The posterior chamber (between the iris, zonules and the lens and filled with aqueous humor)⁴
- The vitreous chamber (between the lens and the retina and filled with vitreous humor)⁴
The anterior chamber aqueous humor provides nutrients to the ocular surface, allowing the cornea and iris to carry out their respective functions of reflecting and filtering light that enters the eye.⁵
Anterior Chamber Complications
Disruptions to the aqueous humor inside the anterior chamber can lead to complications that affect eyesight. An eye doctor (optometrist or ophthalmologist) can evaluate symptoms and suggest a treatment plan.⁶
Glaucoma
Experts believe that the most common types of glaucoma (a group of eye diseases that can lead to blindness) are caused byG high eye pressure.⁶ If there is dysfunction in the anterior chamber, aqueous fluid can build up, causing elevated pressure in the eye.⁷
Hyphema
Hyphema is the accumulation of red blood cells within the anterior chamber.⁷ Hyphemas can result from blunt force trauma to the eyeball or after eye surgery, like cataract surgery.⁸ Patients with hyphemas typically complain of blurry vision and can see that there is blood in their eyes.⁸ An eye doctor will evaluate the grade based on the amount of blood present in the anterior chamber.⁸
Cataracts
If a cataract becomes too large, it can narrow the anterior chamber, disrupting the aqueous humor flow and leading to high eye pressure. In these cases, an eye doctor may recommend cataract surgery. In complicated cataract surgeries, the anterior chamber can be used to implant an anterior chamber intraocular lens (ACIOL).
