Scientists find hidden cleanup system at the back of the eye

Researchers at UBC and the University of Toronto identified a previously unknown drainage route in mice that carries fluid and waste from the back of the eye into the lymphatic system, dubbed the POLO pathway. The finding challenges a century of assumptions and could open new targets for treating glaucoma and macular degeneration.

• The POLO pathway moves fluid and metabolic waste from the back of the eye into lymphatics
• Lymphatic vessels were found in the choroid, the vascular layer beneath the retina
• Tracers reached nearby lymph nodes within minutes after injection in mice
• Age-related macular degeneration affects about 2.5 million Canadians