During diastole, intraocular pressure _______________ as blood flows out of the globe.

During diastole, intraocular pressure decreases as blood flows out of the globe. This is primarily due to the relaxation of the ciliary muscle and the subsequent increase in the size of the eye’s anterior segment. When the ciliary muscle is relaxed, the tension on the zonules lessens, allowing the crystalline lens to return to its more flattened shape. As the volume of the anterior chamber increases with the outflow of blood and other fluids, the overall pressure within the intraocular space historically experiences a reduction.

Intraocular pressure is also affected by the dynamics of fluid movement within the eye, which includes factors such as aqueous humor production and drainage. During diastole, the heart is at rest, allowing for venous return and fluid displacement within the ocular system. As blood exits, the pressure in the eye’s internal structures is relieved, leading to the observed decrease in intraocular pressure.

This physiological mechanism highlights the balance and regulation of eye fluid dynamics which is critical in maintaining normal vision and ocular health.