Effect of fixation pressure on juxtacanalicular tissue and Schlemm's canal.

Abstract

Perfusion fixation at physiologic intraocular pressure caused a 47% decrease in the area of Schlemm's canal and a mean increase of 13.4% in the relative amount of empty space in the juxtacanalicular tissue compared with immersion-fixed fellow eyes. Perfusion of fixative did not appear to cause washout of extracellular material. Perfusion-fixed tissue appears preferable for studies of Schlemm's canal and for ultrastructural studies of the aqueous outflow pathways within the juxtacanalicular tissue.