Recent progress on Modeling the Human Tear Film*

We report on recent results in from our modeling efforts to better understand the dynamics of the human tear film. Lubrication theory is used to reduce the problem to a nonlinear one-dimensional partial differential equations governing the tear film thickness. The curvature variation of the (ellipsoidal) cornea is studied in a model problem that illustrates the influence of this aspect of the eye. Other progress will be discussed as available, including a shear thinning fluid to model tears.