CFD Simulation of the Aqueous Humour in Healthy or Glaucomatous Conditions

Bég, O. Anwar; Usman, U.I.; Bég, Tasveer A.; Channakote, M. M.; Leonard, H. J.; Bhatti, M.M.

doi:10.22059/jcamech.2026.410638.1780

CFD Simulation of the Aqueous Humour in Healthy or Glaucomatous Conditions

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

O. Anwar Bég ¹

U.I. Usman ²

Tasveer A. Bég ³

M. M. Channakote ⁴

H. J. Leonard ¹

M.M. Bhatti ⁵ ^{, 6}

¹ Multi-Physical Engineering Sciences Group, Mechanical Engineering Department, Corrosion and Coatings Lab, Room 3-08, SEE Building, University of Salford, Manchester, M54WT, UK

² Simulation Engineer, Shell Petroleum, London, UK

³ Engineering Mechanics Research, Israfil House, Dickenson Rd., Manchester, M13, UK

⁴ Department of Mathematics and Statistics, M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560054, India

⁵ Department of Physics, College of Science, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea

⁶ Material Science Innovation and Modelling (MaSIM) Research Focus Area, North-West University (Mafikeng Campus), Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa

10.22059/jcamech.2026.410638.1780

Abstract

This article presents a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of aqueous humour flow within the anterior chamber of the eye, comparing healthy and glaucomatous conditions. A simplified 2-dimensional cross-sectional geometry was developed using ANSYS Fluent 2024 R2 Design Modeller, with the trabecular meshwork represented as a porous medium, accounting for its role in flow resistance. Viscous resistances of 2.43 x 1013 m-2 and 6.5 x 1013 m-2 for healthy and glaucomatous cases respectively, were derived from literature and applied to simulate variations in the outflow. A mesh independence study was included. In the healthy model, the simulation peak intraocular pressure of 15.08 mmHg was consistent with normal physiological limits. In the glaucomatous case, intraocular pressure increased to 40.45 mmHg, representing a 168% rise, also agreeing with existing literature. The visualisation of flow fields revealed similar inlet velocity profiles but notable differences in pressure gradients, streamline curvature and vorticity distribution near the trabecular meshwork in the glaucomatous configuration. These numerical trends are within ±5% of existing literature results and confirm the validity of the study. The anterior chamber’s fluid sensitivity is clearly highlighted in the results, confirming the role of CFD as a predictive tool for understanding ocular fluid mechanics and supporting diagnostic and surgical decision making in glaucoma management.

Keywords

Ocular fluid dynamics

aqueous humour

anterior chamber

glaucomatous conditions

trabecular meshwork

Darcy porous medium

intraocular pressure

streamline curvature

Subjects

Numerical Methods & CFD

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