Computing the influences of different Intraocular Pressures on the human eye components using computational...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomechanical Engineering
• Computational Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Intraocular pressure (IOP) is the aqueous humor pressure within the eye, normally 10-20 mmHg.
• Keratoconus is an inflammatory eye disease causing corneal bulging and vision distortion due to structural debilitation.
• Altered eye structure, particularly cornea and lens, impacts overall ocular mechanical and optical properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand how varying intraocular pressure (IOP) affects the stresses and deformations in human eye components.
• To elucidate the etiology and pathogenesis of eye diseases, including keratoconus, by analyzing IOP-induced changes.
• To provide insights for developing novel treatments for various ocular conditions.

Main Methods:

• A Three-Dimensional (3D) computational Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) model of the human eye was utilized.
• Simulations were conducted at three distinct IOP levels: 10, 20, and 30 mmHg.
• Quantification of stresses and deformations in key ocular structures, including the cornea, lens, and optic nerve.

Main Results:

• The highest von Mises stress (245 kPa) was observed in the cornea's bulged region at 30 mmHg IOP.
• The lens experienced von Mises stress of 19.38 kPa at 30 mmHg IOP.
• Increasing IOP from 10 to 30 mmHg led to increased corneal and lens radius of curvature, while scleral stress peaked at 10 mmHg due to overpressure.

Conclusions:

• The study quantifies stresses and deformations in human eye components across different IOPs.
• Results clarify the significant role of IOP in altering the radius of curvature for the cornea and lens.
• Findings contribute to a better understanding of ocular biomechanics and disease mechanisms related to IOP.