THE BIOMECHANICAL EFFECTS OF EYE MOVEMENT

Abstract

Damage to the eyes can significantly affect human quality of life by causing loss of vision. The optic nerve head (ONH) is vulnerable to mechanical insult; it is known that elevated pressure within the eye can damage the cells at the ONH. Recently it has also been suggested that these neural cells could be damaged during the normal rotations of the eyes by the extraocular muscles. The nature of this biomechanical eye movement effect and its consequences for ocular health were assessed. First, a computational model of the eye was constructed to quantify the forces and deformations of eye movement. Second, a modified model was used to assess a situation where the ocular environment has been altered by thyroid eye disease. These results were compared with in-vivo measurements. Finally, the model incorporated theories of growth and remodelling, to examine how eye movement could cause the eye to change over time.