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Fluid mechanics of the human eye: aqueous humour flow in the anterior chamber

Fluid mechanics of the human eye: aqueous humour flow in the anterior chamber
Fluid mechanics of the human eye: aqueous humour flow in the anterior chamber
We consider and compare the various different kinds of flow that may take place in the anterior chamber of a human eye. The physical mechanisms responsible for causing such flows may be classified as follows: (i) buoyancy-driven flow arising from the temperature difference between the anterior surface of the cornea and the iris, (ii) flow generated by the aqueous production of the ciliary body, (iii) flow generated by the interaction between buoyancy and gravity while sleeping while sleeping in a face-up position, (iv) flow generated by phakodenesis (lens tremor), (v) flow generated by Rapid Eye Movement (REM) during sleep. Each flow is studied using a traditional fluid mechanics/asymptotic analysis approach. We also assess the veracity of a hypothesis that was recently advanced [see Maurice, D.M., 1998. The Von Sallman Lecture 1996: An ophthalmological explanation of REM sleep. Exp. Eye. Res. 66, 139–145, for details] to suggest that, contrary to previous opinion, the purpose of REM during sleep is to ensure corneal respiration in the absence of the buoyant mixing that routinely takes place due to (i) above during waking conditions.
aqueous humour circulation, anterior chamber flow, fluid mechanics, convective flow, REM sleep, phakodenesis
0092-8240
53-71
Fitt, A.D.
51b348d7-b553-43ac-83f2-3adbea3d69ab
Gonzalez, G.
d9252032-3b8d-494d-80ec-b08418b461b8
Fitt, A.D.
51b348d7-b553-43ac-83f2-3adbea3d69ab
Gonzalez, G.
d9252032-3b8d-494d-80ec-b08418b461b8

Fitt, A.D. and Gonzalez, G. (2006) Fluid mechanics of the human eye: aqueous humour flow in the anterior chamber. Bulletin of Mathematical Biology, 68 (1), 53-71. (doi:10.1007/s11538-005-9015-2).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We consider and compare the various different kinds of flow that may take place in the anterior chamber of a human eye. The physical mechanisms responsible for causing such flows may be classified as follows: (i) buoyancy-driven flow arising from the temperature difference between the anterior surface of the cornea and the iris, (ii) flow generated by the aqueous production of the ciliary body, (iii) flow generated by the interaction between buoyancy and gravity while sleeping while sleeping in a face-up position, (iv) flow generated by phakodenesis (lens tremor), (v) flow generated by Rapid Eye Movement (REM) during sleep. Each flow is studied using a traditional fluid mechanics/asymptotic analysis approach. We also assess the veracity of a hypothesis that was recently advanced [see Maurice, D.M., 1998. The Von Sallman Lecture 1996: An ophthalmological explanation of REM sleep. Exp. Eye. Res. 66, 139–145, for details] to suggest that, contrary to previous opinion, the purpose of REM during sleep is to ensure corneal respiration in the absence of the buoyant mixing that routinely takes place due to (i) above during waking conditions.

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Published date: 2006
Keywords: aqueous humour circulation, anterior chamber flow, fluid mechanics, convective flow, REM sleep, phakodenesis

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 41150
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/41150
ISSN: 0092-8240
PURE UUID: 1c027aa4-a892-4436-ba44-e1462b552879

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Date deposited: 24 Jul 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 08:25

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Author: A.D. Fitt
Author: G. Gonzalez

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