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On the behavior of an eye encircled by a scleral buckle

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Abstract

A mechanics based mathematical model for the behavior of an eye encircled by a scleral buckle, a procedure used by surgeons to correct retinal detachment, is developed. Closed form analytical solutions are obtained, and results of numerical simulations based on those solutions are presented. The effects of material and geometric parameters of the scleral buckle, as well as of the ocular pressure, on the deformation and volume change of the eye are studied. Critical behavior is identified, and correlations are drawn with regard to the properties of the buckle, the associated deformation of the eye, and the ocular pressure. The results indicate that a judicious choice of the buckle parameters is advisable for planning surgery. In particular, the initial (undeformed) radius of the buckle is seen to have the dominant influence with regard to deformation of the eye, while the thickness (height) and width, and hence the shape, of the buckle are seen to have minimal influence and may be chosen for other reasons, such as to maximize the comfort of the patient.

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Notes

  1. Measured values of the thickness, h, and the radius, R, of the eye wall are presented by Wilkinson and Rice (1997), Uchio et al. (1999), and Sigal et al. (2014).

  2. Measured values of the thickness, \(h_{b}\), and the radius, \(R_{b}\), of the silicone band are presented by Chou and Siegel (2013), Jones et al. (1992), and Wollensak and Spoerl (2004).

  3. Clinically, the change of radius is controlled by shortening of the band.

  4. As discussed by Keeling et al. (2009) the ocular pressure of a normal eye is typically of the order of 23 mmHg, but could reach a maximum of about 76 mmHg during scleral buckle surgery. They also point out that after the buckle is attached, the autoregulation mechanism of the eye will reduce the volume of fluid in the eye and thereby reduce the pressure to around 20 mmHg. (These results are found from experiments on human eyes post mortum. Pressures > 40 mmHg are not permitted clinically.)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers University, 98 Brett Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA

    Peinan Ge & William J. Bottega

  2. Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 10 Plum Street, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA

    Jonathan L. Prenner & Howard F. Fine

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  1. Peinan Ge
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  2. William J. Bottega
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  3. Jonathan L. Prenner
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  4. Howard F. Fine
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Correspondence to William J. Bottega.

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Ge, P., Bottega, W.J., Prenner, J.L. et al. On the behavior of an eye encircled by a scleral buckle. J. Math. Biol. 74, 313–332 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00285-016-1015-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00285-016-1015-3

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