CFD Analysis of Nano-Drug Transport in Vitreous Cavity due to Saccadic Eye Movements

Abstract

In the present research, the motion of the nano-drug in the vitreous chamber of human eye due to saccadic movements in post-vitrectomy eyes is investigated. The average radius of the vitreous cavity in human eye is equal to 12 mm. This cavity is filled with a liquid in post-vitrectomy eyes. A dynamic mesh technique was performed to model the eye motion. The unsteady 3-D forms of continuity, Navier-Stokes and concentrations of nano-drug equations were solved numerically. The numerical model was validated comparing the results of the flow field with available analytic solutions and experimental data for a sphere as an ideal model of vitreous chamber which a very close agreement was achieved. Then, the numerical simulation was performed to a real model of vitreous cavity filled with BSS (Balanced salt solution). The convection and diffusion of nano-drug in the filling fluids of post-vitrectomy eyes is computed and the results are compared with the diffusion of the nano-drug in the stagnant vitreous. The comparison depicts that the saccade movements of human eye accelerate the drug motion one to two orders of magnitude higher than that due to diffusion in stagnant vitreous chamber.