Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness, with an estimated world-wide prevalence of 3.5% in members of the population older than 40 years of age. Elevated intraocular pressure as the result of abnormal resistance to aqueous humor drainage is a major contributing, and the only preventable, factor in glaucoma development. Schlemm’s canal (SC), a lymphatic-like vessel encircling the anterior portion of the eye, plays a key role in promoting aqueous humor outflow and maintenance of normal intraocular pressure. The risk of developing glaucoma increases with age; therefore, understanding mechanisms of SC maintenance and how aging affects SC function are of special importance, both for prevention and novel treatment approaches to glaucoma. Using a compelling array of genetic models, Kim et al. report in this issue of the JCI that continuous angiopoietin/TIE2 signaling is required for maintaining SC identity and integrity during adulthood and show that its age-related changes can be rescued by a TIE2 agonistic antibody.

青光眼是失明的主要原因，据估计全世界40岁以上人群中的患病率为3.5％。由于对房水引流的抗性异常而导致的眼内压升高是青光眼发展的主要因素，也是唯一可预防的因素。施勒姆氏管（SCle）是环绕眼前部的淋巴样血管，在促进房水流出和维持正常眼内压中起关键作用。青光眼的风险会随着年龄的增长而增加；因此，对于预防和新的青光眼治疗方法，了解SC维持的机制以及衰老如何影响SC功能具有特别重要的意义。使用一系列引人注目的遗传模型，Kim等人。