Open AccessAqueous humor dynamics in human eye: A lattice Boltzmann study
Author(s) -
Zhangrong Qin,
Lingjuan Meng,
Fan Yang,
Chaoying Zhang,
Binghai Wen
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
mathematical biosciences and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.451
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1551-0018
pISSN - 1547-1063
DOI - 10.3934/mbe.2021255
Subject(s) - buoyancy , mechanics , lattice boltzmann methods , convection , viscosity , aqueous humor , trabecular meshwork , materials science , human eye , intraocular pressure , thermodynamics , chemistry , ophthalmology , optics , physics , medicine
This paper presents a lattice Boltzmann model to simulate the aqueous humor (AH) dynamics in the human eye by involving incompressible Navier-Stokes flow, heat convection and diffusion, and Darcy seepage flow. Verifying simulations indicate that the model is stable, convergent and robust. Further investigations were carried out, including the effects of heat convection and buoyancy, AH production rate, permeability of trabecular meshwork, viscosity of AH and anterior chamber angle on intraocular pressure (IOP). The heat convection and diffusion can significantly affect the flow patterns in the healthy eye, and the IOP can be controlled by increasing the anterior chamber angle or decreasing the secretion rate, the drainage resistance and viscosity of AH. However, the IOP is insensitive to the viscosity of AH, which may be one of the causes that the viscosity would not have been considered as a factor for controlling the IOP. It's interesting that all these factors have more significant influences on the IOP in pathologic eye than healthy one. The temperature difference and the eye-orientation have obvious influence on the cornea and iris wall shear stresses. The present model and simulation results are expected to provide an alternative tool and theoretical reference for the study of AH dynamics.