A fluid bearing for use in producing an optical fiber, the bearing comprising: - an optical fiber pathway along which the optical fiber is drawn through the fluid bearing by way of draw tension; - a fluid pathway along which fluid is directed with a force or pressure against the optical fiber as it is drawn through the fluid bearing along the optical fiber pathway to thereby cushion the optical fiber in the bearing, whereby the optical fiber is stabilizable in the bearing at a position at which the fiber draw tension balances the fluid force; and - tension compensating means for compensating tension in the optical fiber resulting from an imbalance between the draw tension and the fluid force, so that displacement from the position at which the fiber draw tension balances the fluid force is counteracted, whereby the optical fiber is displaceable through the bearing without mechanical contact between the optical fiber and the fluid bearing , wherein the tension compensating means comprise pressure reducing means for reducing the pressure of the fluid directed against the optical fiber, wherein a fiber support channel comprises a fiber slot and a fluid slot through which the fluid is directed against the optical fiber, wherein the fluid bearing comprises the fiber support channel encompassing the optical fiber pathway, which fluid support channel provides a plenum for the fluid, and which fiber support channel is configured so that the optical fiber is displaceable through the bearing without rotation of the fluid bearing, further comprising a first plate and a second plate , the fiber support channel disposed between the first and second plates ; characterized in that the pressure reducing means comprise one or more pressure relief vents which extend through the first and second plates , wherein the one or more pressure relief vents comprise a variable azimuthal width such that each relief vent is wider at an end facing towards an external bearing opening . - an optical fiber pathway along which the optical fiber is drawn through the fluid bearing by way of draw tension; - a fluid pathway along which fluid is directed with a force or pressure against the optical fiber as it is drawn through the fluid bearing along the optical fiber pathway to thereby cushion the optical fiber in the bearing, whereby the optical fiber is stabilizable in the bearing at a position at which the fiber draw tension balances the fluid force; and - tension compensating means for compensating tension in the optical fiber resulting from an imbalance between the draw tension and the fluid force, so that displacement from the position at which the fiber draw tension balances the fluid force is counteracted, whereby the optical fiber is displaceable through the bearing without mechanical contact between the optical fiber and the fluid bearing , wherein the tension compensating means comprise pressure reducing means for reducing the pressure of the fluid directed against the optical fiber, wherein a fiber support channel comprises a fiber slot and a fluid slot through which the fluid is directed against the optical fiber, wherein the fluid bearing comprises the fiber support channel encompassing the optical fiber pathway, which fluid support channel provides a plenum for the fluid, and which fiber support channel is configured so that the optical fiber is displaceable through the bearing without rotation of the fluid bearing, further comprising a first plate and a second plate , the fiber support channel disposed between the first and second plates ; characterized in that the pressure reducing means comprise one or more pressure relief vents which extend through the first and second plates , wherein the one or more pressure relief vents comprise a variable azimuthal width such that each relief vent is wider at an end facing towards an external bearing opening . <EOS>