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A-Z Glossary

Table of Contents

Anterior Chamber

Written byDanielle Stoken
Danielle StokenEye Health & Wellness ContributorPittsburgh, PA

Bio

I was so excited when I learned about CorneaCare and am honored to share content, tips and stories about dry eye! I am a certified Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative nutrition so the intersection of nutrition/lifestyle and dry eye disease is one that I am particularly passionate about. Since recently becoming a mom, I care even more about my eye care and self-care and am learning so much through CorneaCare's educational resources.

Get to know me a little better!

Hobby: baking sourdough bread
Food: pasta
Superhero: my dad
Guilty pleasure: cold brew coffee (really, any coffee)
Secret power: serious facial recognition/recollection

Training:

Undergraduate: Carnegie Mellon University
Nutrition training: Institute for Integrative Nutrition

  • Updated May 13, 2022

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).

Bibliography

  1. “Eye Terminology for Eye Technicians.” Allergan TechAlliance, https://www.allergantechalliance.com/Eye-Conditions/EyeCare-Terminology. Accessed 12 April 2022.
  2. “anterior chamber – Definition.” OpenMD.com, https://openmd.com/define/anterior+chamber. Accessed 12 April 2022.
  3. Vislisel, Jessi. “Anterior chamber intraocular lens (ACIOL) implant.” EyeRounds. Case reports, tutorials, videos, images from Univ of Iowa Dept of Ophthalmology, http://eyerounds.org/. Accessed 12 April 2022.
  4. Kolb, Helga. “Gross Anatomy of the Eye by Helga Kolb – Webvision.” Webvision, 25 January 2012, https://webvision.med.utah.edu/book/part-i-foundations/gross-anatomy-of-the-ey/. Accessed 12 April 2022.
  5. “The Anatomy of the Eye | Anterior Segment.” Precision Family Eye Care, http://www.precisionfamilyeyecare.com/eye-encyclopedia/the-anatomy-of-the-eye-anterior/. Accessed 12 April 2022.
  6. Houser, Kourtney. “Anterior Chamber Intraocular Lenses – EyeWiki.” EyeWiki, https://eyewiki.aao.org/Anterior_Chamber_Intraocular_Lenses. Accessed 12 April 2022.
  7. “Glaucoma and Eye Pressure.” National Eye Institute, 25 March 2022, https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma/glaucoma-and-eye-pressure. Accessed 12 April 2022.
  8. Syed, Zeba A. “Hyphema – EyeWiki.” EyeWiki, https://eyewiki.org/Hyphema. Accessed 12 April 2022.

 

Related Terms

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Epiretinal Membrane

is fibrous tissue (scar tissue) that forms on the top of the retina.

Dacryostenosis

is inflammation of the nasolacrimal duct (tear sac), mainly due to poor tear drainage.

Canaliculitis

is a disease of the lacrimal canaliculus, which is a small duct in the eyelid.

Blepharochalasis

Occurs when the eyelids suddenly become inflamed and swell.

20/20 Vision

is a term used to describe good visual acuity (clarity) when measured from about 20 feet away.

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