The lamina cribrosa is a structure located in the eye at the point where the optic nerve exits the back of the eye. It is composed of a meshwork of connective tissue fibers and provides support for the axons of the optic nerve as they pass through the back of the eye and into the brain. The lamina cribrosa plays a critical role in maintaining the structural integrity of the optic nerve and is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of certain eye diseases, such as glaucoma. Research in this area focuses on understanding the biomechanical properties of the lamina cribrosa and how changes in these properties may contribute to optic nerve damage and vision loss in various eye conditions.