The Fluid Mechanics of the Eye and the Role of the Mucus Layer
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
12-1-2010
Abstract
We discuss the role of the mucus layer in the eye. The tear film in the eye is composed of a mucus layer, an aqueous layer and a lipid layer. While the aqueous and lipid layers are Newtonian, the mucus layer is non-Newtonian. It is commonly believed that the mucus layer serves as a lubricant for the cornea. However, we hypothesize that it serves a greater purpose as a protective layer from foreign particles; the normal stress effects of a viscoelastic fluid under the blinking motion of the eyelid would act towards pushing out any particle embedded in this layer. To prove this hypothesis, we mathematically study the fluid mechanics of a viscoelastic, shear thinning fluid modeled by a generalized second grade fluid. As a first step, we investigate the flow and stresses induced by a shearing motion (part of a blink cycle) and its effect upon an embedded particle, which is modeled by the Wiberg-Smith equation.
DOI
10.1115/FEDSM-ICNMM2010-30995
MSU Digital Commons Citation
Platt, Douglas and Vaidya, Ashuwin, "The Fluid Mechanics of the Eye and the Role of the Mucus Layer" (2010). Department of Mathematics Facuty Scholarship and Creative Works. 170.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/mathsci-facpubs/170