The inclusion of the epithelium in numerical models of the human cornea.

We present a patient-specific finite element model of the human cornea that accounts for the presence of the epithelium. The thin anterior layer that protects the cornea from the external actions has a scant relevance from the mechanical point of view, and it has been neglected in most numerical models of the cornea, which assign to the entire cornea the mechanical properties of the stroma. Yet, modern corneal topographers capture the geometry of the epithelium, which can be naturally included into a patient-specific solid model of the cornea, treated as a multi-layer solid.

Modeling the biomechanics of laser corneal refractive surgery.

We present a finite element model of the human cornea used to simulate corneal refractive surgery according to the three most diffused laser procedures, i. e., photo-refractive keratectomy (PRK), laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE).

A 3D fluid-solid interaction model of the air puff test in the human cornea.

We present a numerical model of a contactless test commonly used to assess the biomechanics of the human cornea. The test, consisting in a rapid air jet applied to the anterior surface of the cornea, is controversial. Although the numerous studies documented in the literature have not been able yet to clarify its relevance as a diagnostic tool, the test has the potential to be combined with inverse analysis procedures to characterize the parameters of numerical models of the cornea.

Modelling with a meshfree approach the cornea-aqueous humor interaction during the air puff test.

The air puff test is an in-vivo investigative procedure commonly utilized in ophthalmology to estimate the intraocular pressure. Potentially the test, quick and painless, could be combined with inverse analysis methods to characterize the patient-specific mechanical properties of the human cornea. A rapid localized air jet applied on the anterior surface induces the inward motion of the cornea, that interacts with aqueous humor-the fluid filling the narrow space between cornea and iris-with a strong influence on the dynamics of the cornea.