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Scientists find hidden waste-drainage system at the back of the eye

Co-led the POLO pathway research

For more than a century, scientists assumed the eye had no lymphatic drainage. In July 2026, teams at the University of British Columbia and the University of Toronto reported finding one at the back of the eye, a route they named the posterior ocular lymphatic outflow, or POLO pathway.

Updated Oct 22

Notable Quotes

The retina is responsible for vision and it's also where many of the most serious vision-loss diseases occur.

from Scientists find hidden waste-drainage system at the back of the eye · Updated Oct 22

Understanding how this part of the eye maintains a balanced environment and flow of materials is critical.

from Scientists find hidden waste-drainage system at the back of the eye · Updated Oct 22

We were surprised to see such a direct route for fluid to leave the eye and connect with the lymphatic system. It suggests the back of the eye has an active clearance pathway, which could play an important role in removing fluid, proteins and inflammatory material that build up in disease.

from Scientists find hidden waste-drainage system at the back of the eye · Updated Oct 22

Because lymphatic vessels in the choroid were thought not to exist, the team used multiple techniques to demonstrate both their presence and function.

from Scientists find hidden waste-drainage system at the back of the eye · Updated Oct 22