POLO pathway discovery by UBC and U of T

Researchers from the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto have discovered a previously unknown waste drainage system at the back of the eye, called the posterior ocular lymphatic outflow (POLO) pathway. This pathway provides a route for fluid and waste to exit the eye and enter the body's lymphatic system. The discovery challenges a century-old belief that the eye lacks a lymphatic system and could fundamentally shift understanding and treatment of leading causes of blindness such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. The study was published in Translational Vision Science & Technology and supported by several funding agencies including the Canada — Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Glaucoma Research Society of Canada, Canada — Canadian Space Agency, and Canada Foundation for Innovation. Further research is needed to confirm the pathway in humans and develop potential therapies.