Dr Rodolfo Repetto, Department of Engineering of Structures, Water and Soil; Faculty of Engineering, University of L’Aquila presents this lecture.
Abstract: Vitreous motion induced by eye rotations produces stress on the retina which may have a role in the generation of retinal tears and also significantly speeds up transport processes within the vitreous chamber, thus affecting the efficiency of drug delivery through direct injection into the vitreous.
In the first part of the talk the case of liquefied vitreous (a condition often encountered in elderly people) will be addressed. The problem will be analysed theoretically, assuming small amplitude eye rotations and describing the vitreous chamber as a weakly deformed sphere. Experimental results will also be presented based on PIV measurements. In the second part of the talk the case of eyes with Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) will be considered. PVD often occurs with aging, and consists of a separation of the vitreous into a liquid and a solid phase. Sites of strong adherence between the solid vitreous and the retina may induce intense tractions on the retina and eventually produce a retinal break. This may be a first step towards rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. We study the problem numerically, modelling the solid vitreous as a hyperelastic incompressible material and the liquefied vitreous as a Newtonian fluid, and simulate finite-amplitude eye rotations.
Further information
Biography:
1996. Graduated in Hydraulic Civil Engineering at the University of Genova (Italy).
1998. Obtained a permanent position at the University of L’Aquila as Lecturer in Hydraulics.
2000. Discussed Ph.D thesis “Unit processes in braided rivers” at the University of Padova. Supervisor:
Prof. Marco Tubino (University of Trento).
From September 2006 to February 2008 spent a sabbatical leave at the Department of Bioengineering of the Imperial College London (UK).
Main research interests:
• River morphodynamics;
• Biological fluid mechanics;
• Basic fluid mechanics.
Light refreshments served from 3.30pm in the Staff Breakout Room RSM3.24.