CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM CONTROL OF INTRAOCULAR-PRESSURE

Normal intraocular pressure (IOP) is the result of an equilibrium betw een aqueous humor (AH) production, AH outflow and episcleral venous pr essure. Most available antiglaucoma agents produce their effects by in teracting with autonomic mechanisms (beta-blockers, epinephrin or para sympathomimetics). In contrast, the role of the central nervous system (brain and nerves) in the regulation of IOP remains unclear in view o f the complex haemodynamic, metabolic or hormonal changes which occur under experimental conditions. In this paper, we discuss a basic under standing of the anatomic and physiological relationships between centr al nervous system and IOP and describe how the brain can affect functi ons in ciliary body and trabeculum meshwork.