[Hydrodynamics of aqueous humor in chronic simple glaucoma : Mechanisms of pressure normalization by an artificial...

To help elucidate the interplay of physical forces, in particular pressure and flow, controlling the distribution and absorption of aqueous humor in subconjunctival tissue, a recently published computational model was considered where the fluid production in the eye, its removal via the trabecular/uveoscleral pathways and a surgical pathway are taken into account. The target quantity is the intraocular pressure. The surgical outflow pathway is linked to a fluid bleb that is positioned below the subconjunctival tissue and is modeled as a porous medium. The computational study was conducted on the basis of the geometry and relevant parameters characterizing fluid production, the surgically formed fluid pathway as well as absorption by the subconjunctival vessels, the hydraulic and geometrical characteristics of the bleb and the outflow facility. Clinical observations can be physically interpreted on the basis of parametric studies.