Review
Eye (2006) 20, 1145–1148. doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6702378
Orbital lymphatics: do they exist?
A J Dickinson1 and R E Gausas2
- 1Eye Department, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- 2Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania Medical School, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Correspondence: J Dickinson, Eye department, Claremont Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK. Tel: +44 191 282 4410; Fax: +44 191 282 5446. E-mail: Jane.Dickinson@ncl.ac.uk
Received 8 March 2006; Accepted 22 March 2006.
Abstract
Introduction
Although the lymphatic system was first described almost 400 years ago, it is only in very recent years that researchers have been able to identify lymphatic channels with reasonable accuracy. Through advances in molecular biology and the development of endothelial cell markers the long held view that the human orbit is devoid of lymphatics has now been challenged.
Discussion
This review discusses the current evidence on this topic, which confirms the presence of orbital lymphatics in lachrymal gland and optic nerve sheath.
Keywords:
lymphatic, orbit, lymphatic monoclonal antibody markers
