Fluid mechanics of the eye

Under normal conditions, the difference between body and ambient temperature leads to a (viscous dominated) bouyancy driven flow in the anterior chamber of the human eye. In cases of severe eye trauma or as a result of diseases, particulate matter can find its way into the anterior chamber where it is advected with the flow. By computing the flow, various well established medical symptoms can be better understood (to date we have explained hyphemas, hypopyons and Krukenberg spindles in this way).

The posterior chamber of the human eye is normally filled with a vitreous gel that is effectively visco-elastic. In a variety of treatments for eye diseases (particularly detached retinas), the gel is removed and replaced by a viscous fluid. In this case, a temperature gradient across the posterior chamber should lead to a bouyancy driven flow. There is some empirical and anecdotal evidence to suggest that this mechanism is important in transporting scar tissue from the site of an initial retinal detachment and which leads to further retinal detachment.

People working in this area within OCIAM are

• Dr Jeff Dewynne

There is the possibility for a DPhil. student to work in this area

• Modelling flows in the posterior chamber when the vitreous gel is absent and analysing particulate transport in these flows.

There is the possibility for an M.Sc. student to work in this area

• Modelling visco-elastic waves in the posterior chamber when the vitreous gel is present.