What part of the eye is responsible for maintaining intraocular pressure?

The aqueous humor is the part of the eye responsible for maintaining intraocular pressure. This clear fluid is produced by the ciliary body and fills the anterior chamber of the eye, which is located between the cornea and the lens. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the shape of the eye and providing nutrients to both avascular structures such as the cornea and lens.

Intraocular pressure is essential for the proper functioning of the eye; it helps keep the eye's structure intact and supports optimal vision. An imbalance in the production or drainage of the aqueous humor can lead to conditions such as glaucoma, which is characterized by increased intraocular pressure potentially leading to optic nerve damage.

Other components mentioned, like the cornea, vitreous humor, and the pupil, serve different purposes. The cornea plays a key role in focusing light onto the retina, the vitreous humor helps maintain the shape of the eye and provides a gel-like substance that fills the posterior chamber, and the pupil regulates the amount of light that enters the eye. However, they do not play a direct role in maintaining intraocular pressure like the aqueous humor does.