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Assessing bulk emulsification at the silicone oil – saline solution interface in a 3D model of the eye
Author(s) -
Wang Ru,
Snead Martin,
Alexander Philip,
Ian Wilson D.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/aos.14539
Subject(s) - silicone oil , saccadic masking , surface tension , oil droplet , viscosity , materials science , phase (matter) , aqueous solution , mechanics , chemistry , composite material , eye movement , thermodynamics , physics , emulsion , organic chemistry , ophthalmology , medicine
Purpose Emulsification of silicone oil (SiOil) in a vitrectomized eye was investigated using a 3D model of the vitreous cavity to test the hypothesis that oil droplet formation arises from the breakdown of the bulk SiOil‐aqueous interface during eye saccadic movement. Methods Round bottom flasks filled with SiOil and a saline phase modelled the vitrectomized SiOil‐filled eye. A stepper motor imposed saccadic movements and the oil/aqueous interface was monitored with digital cameras. A range of SiOil viscosities, flask diameters, motion scenarios and levels of fill were studied. Estimates of velocity profiles in the fluid on the equatorial plane of a sphere subject to saccadic motion were obtained from an analytical solution to the Navier‐Stokes equations. Results Interfacial waves were observed at saccadic motions with higher acceleration, amplitude and frequency. Low interfacial tension between the two fluids, lower oil viscosity and smaller level of SiOil fill all promoted large deformations of the interface. No droplets were formed at the bulk SiOil‐aqueous interface. However, formation and detachment of oil droplets were observed at the three‐phase contact line under certain conditions. Conclusions The stresses generated at the liquid‐liquid interface are not large enough to form droplets in the bulk region for conditions representative of these in the eye. Bulk emulsification of the SiOil, reported as the main formation mechanism by some workers, is not responsible for droplet formation in a vitrectomized SiOil‐filled eye set‐up. This result confirms recent finding on droplet formation driven by a surface emulsification mechanism.