How does aqueous humor help the eye keep its shape?

The aqueous humor helps the eye maintain its proper shape by providing internal pressure, known as intraocular pressure. This fluid is continuously secreted by the ciliary body into the posterior chamber and flows into the anterior chamber, keeping the eyeball (globe) firm.12

The importance of this pressure is evident when the fluid is allowed to escape; if the anterior chamber is punctured, the loss of fluid causes the cornea to collapse and wrinkle. To maintain this structural integrity, the eye relies on a balance between the production of the fluid and its drainage through the trabecular meshwork and Schlemm’s canal. When this drainage is obstructed, the resulting rise in intraocular pressure can lead to glaucoma, a serious condition that can damage the retina and cause vision loss.213