[Collagen architecture of sclerocorneal trabeculae in relation to age]

The authors investigated the collagen architecture of the sclerocorneal trabeculum in relation to age in eight eyes within the range from a premature infant to a 90-year-old man. All specimens were investigated using a scanning electron microscope of Jeol Co. The appearance of fibrils does not change substantially in relation to age, however, their pattern and distribution change. In a 10-year-old boy Schlemm's canal is wide, oval with thin trabecular plates and wide open spaces surrounding them. In the 90-year-old man the canal is open but the plates on its luminous side are thickened, wrinkled and compressed. On the albuminous side there is a compact wall of compressed collagen layers.