Three-Dimensional Particle Image Velocimetry on Thermally Induced Fluid Mixing in the Eye*

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of central vision loss in the developed world. Wet AMD can usually be managed through intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents. However, the treatment's effectiveness is varied. The half-life of anti-VEGF agents is limited, and the drug delivery mechanism in the eye is not well understood. This study investigates how thermally induced fluid mixing accelerates drug transport in a model eye and demonstrates the efficacy of this added circulation for retinal drug delivery. This research extends previous work that utilized two-dimensional planar particle image velocimetry (PIV) to three-dimensional PIV. The setup captures circulation across the entire eye model and enables a deeper understanding of heat addition's potential to improve drug delivery and treatment effectiveness.