ABSTRACT.Purpose: Intravitreal injections are used extensively to treat retinal diseases. Performing an intravitreal injection increases intraocular volume by the amount of fluid brought into the eye. Whether this influences intraocular pressure (IOP) was investigated here. Methods: A biomechanical model relying on 3-dimensional elasticity theory was developed to determine the short-term effect of volume changes on IOP. We calculated the effect for intravitreal injections of 0.1 ml in myopic, emmetropic and hyperopic eyes. Our calculations were compared with IOP measurements obtained immediately after intravitreal injection of 4 mg triamcinolone in 0.1 ml solution (IVTA) in 22 patients. Shortly after the measurement had been taken, IOP was reduced by paracentesis. Results: Immediately after IVTA, measured IOP was elevated by a mean of 40.6 ± 12.1 mmHg compared with initial pressure (p < 0.001). Measured and calculated IOP were comparable. Eyes with shorter axial length had higher IOP immediately after the injection (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The effect of injected volumes on IOP can be calculated with a biomechanical model. Our results show that paracentesis might be recommended when injecting 0.1 ml of a substance to avoid a short-term increase in IOP. As intravitreal injections are mostly applied in diseases that are due to vascular compromise, it might be prudent not to impair perfusion in those eyes, even for short periods of time.
The physical content of Maklakoff's tonometric (based on the loading of the cornea) method of measuring the intraocular pressure, widely used in medical practice, is discussed. For this purpose, we employ both the results of physical modeling of the eye described in the literature and the results of our own mathematical modeling based on the representation of the eyeball as a thin shell. The effect of the physical properties of the shell on the results of the modeling is investigated. Qualitative conclusions that follow from our study and may be of practical interest in measuring the intraocular pressure are discussed.
Axisymmetric nonlinear finite models of accommodation incorporating the posteriorly sloped force and vitreous effects have been studied by means of their effectiveness in mechanical and optical performances. All materials were assumed to be linearly elastic, vitreous and lens matrices were incompressible. The present model is subjected to certain indicated shortcomings, however, the behavior of the model is predictable, reasonable and favourably consistent with different published data, supporting the Helmholtz theory of accommodation.
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