AXON DEVIATION IN THE HUMAN LAMINA-CRIBROSA

Aims-To examine the course taken by individual retinal ganglion cell a xons through the human lamina cribrosa. Methods-Retinal ganglion cell axons were labelled using the retrograde tracer horseradish peroxidase applied directly to the optic nerve in two normal human eyes removed during the course of treatment for extraocular disease. Results-A majo rity of axons took a direct course through the lamina cribrosa but a s ignificant minority, in the range 8-12%, deviated to pass between the cribrosal plates in both central and peripheral parts of the optic dis c. Conclusions-It is postulated that these axons would be selectively vulnerable to compression of the lamina cribrosa in diseases such as g laucoma in which the intraocular pressure is increased.