Hyaloid canal

Hyaloid canal (Cloquet's canal and Stilling's canal.) is a small transparent canal running through the vitreous body from the optic nerve disc to the lens. It is formed by an invagination of the hyaloid, a membrane which encloses the vitreous body.

In the fetus, the hyaloid canal contains a prolongation of the central artery of the retina, the hyaloid artery, which supplies blood to the developing lens. After birth, the hyaloid canal contains lymph and its purpose is to facilitate changes in the volume of the lens. As the lens expands in positive accommodation, its volume increases. This results in compression of the hyaloid canal, so that the volume of the eye remains constant.