What is the function of the aqueous humor?

The function of the aqueous humor is indeed to maintain intraocular pressure and provide nutrients to the avascular structures of the eye, such as the lens and cornea. The aqueous humor is a clear fluid produced by the ciliary body and fills the anterior chamber of the eye. By maintaining intraocular pressure, it helps to keep the eyeball inflated, ensuring that it maintains its shape, which is crucial for proper vision.

Additionally, the aqueous humor plays a significant role in nourishing the lens and cornea, which do not have their own blood supply, and it helps in the removal of metabolic waste. This nutrient supply and waste removal process is vital for the health of these eye structures, as it aids in their functioning and overall ocular health.

In contrast, while the lens's shape is influenced by the ciliary body, this function is performed through the action of the zonules and not directly by the aqueous humor. Protection from external damage is typically achieved by the eyelids and other protective structures around the eye, rather than the aqueous humor itself. Lastly, the exchange of gases mainly occurs in the cornea and retina through different mechanisms, and the aqueous humor is not directly responsible for facilitating this exchange.