[Role of the lamina cribrosa in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. A review of the literature].

Located within the scleral canal, the lamina cribrosa is a sieve-like structure separating the intraocular and retrobulbar portions of the optic nerve. Identified as the main site of axonal damage in glaucomatous optic neuropathy, the study of the lamina cribrosa has been of great interest for many years. Numerous studies have explored the histological and morphological characteristics of the laminar region in healthy subjects as well as glaucoma patients. More recently, the development of adaptive optics systems and new generations of OCT has allowed great progress in the understanding of the pathogenesis of glaucoma and has opened new perspectives for the improvement of diagnostic procedures.