Aqueous humour dynamics in anterior chamber with the Descemet's membrane detachment

Abstract

Descemet membrane detachment (DMD) develops in the human eye once the aqueous humour (AH) enters the Descemet membrane (DM) space through a break and causes the membrane to separate from the stroma (the main layer of the cornea which is responsible in giving the cornea its strength). A mathematical model of AH flow through the DMD has been developed. The mathematical model is set up to analyze the fluid mechanics concerning the progression of DMD. This model is based on the Naiver-Stokes equations that govern the flow of AH in the anterior chamber (AC). Specifically, fluid flow in the AC is described as a flow driven by buoyancy effects due to the existing temperature different between the cornea and the pupil. A thin flap (DMD) which is kept in contact with a dome shape (cornea) is considered in the flow in order to show how the type of the DMD affect the fluid flow behave in the AC. The relevant fluid flow equations have been solved numerically using finite element method with the aiding of COMSOL Multiphysics. The results have shown that the different type of DMD do affect the characteristics of the fluid flow in the AC.