Abstract

FR.22.01

Aqueous humor production – a historical review

Erb C.
Schlosspark-Klinik, Department of Ophthalmology

Until the beginning of the last century the origin of aqueous humor (AH) production was still unclear. Therefore, different locations were discussed like the ciliary body (Leber, 1903), the iris (Hamburger, 1914) and the vitreous body. At that time AH was described as a transudation liquid dependent from the systemic blood pressure and vasodilation (Butler 1908, Wessely 1910).
In the 1920´s, ciliary body epithelium was accepted as the site for AH production. Vacuols and swelling was described in the unpigmented ciliary epithelium (Gilbert 1921) and the detection of an electric current was a hint for some secretion activity (Seidel 1920/21). In addition, Thiel (1923) found no penetration of fluorescein through the ciliary body, postulating the aqueous humor barrier which was later confirmed by Franzeschetti and Wieland (1928). First experiments about ion fluxes were described (Gädertz 1928, Abe 1928), but only the high amount of ascorbic acid in the AH in comparison to the plasma (Kinsey 1947) accepted the theory of active transport mechanisms in the ciliary epithelium which are still under investigation up to now.

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