Dua's layer could shed light on glaucoma

Dua’s layer, named after Professor Harminder Dua, the scientist that discovered it was found to make an important contribution to the trabecular meshwork (TM).

The University said the findings, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, could shed new light on glaucoma. Researchers said defective drainage through the TM was an important cause of glaucoma and discovered that the collagen fibres of Dua’s layer also branch out to form a meshwork. They added that the core of TM was in fact an extension of Dua’s layer.

It was hoped the discovery would offer new clues on why the drainage system malfunctions in the eyes of some people, leading to high pressure. Professor Dua said: ‘Many surgeons who perform lamellar corneal transplant procedures recognise this layer as an important part of the surgical anatomy of the cornea. This new finding resulting from a study of the microanatomy of the periphery of the layer could have significance beyond corneal surgery.’