  This paper presents a lattice Boltzmann model to simulate the aqueous humor
(AH) dynamics in the human eyes by involving incompressible Navier-Stokes flow,
heat convection and diffusion, and Darcy seepage flow. Verifying simulations
indicate that the model is stable, convergent and robust. Further
investigations were carried out, including the effects of heat convection and
buoyancy, AH production rate, permeability of trabecular meshwork, viscosity of
AH and anterior chamber angle on intraocular pressure (IOP). The heat
convection and diffusion can significantly affect the flow patterns in the
healthy eye, and the IOP can be controlled by increasing the anterior chamber
angle or decreasing the secretion rate, the drainage resistance and viscosity
of AH. However, the IOP is insensitive to the viscosity of the AH, which may be
one of the causes that the viscosity would not have been considered as a factor
for controlling the IOP. It's interesting that all these factors have more
significant influences on the IOP in pathologic eyes than healthy ones. The
temperature difference and the eye-orientation have obvious influence on the
cornea and iris wall shear stresses. The present model and simulation results
are expected to provide an alternative tool and theoretical reference for the
study of AH dynamics.
