Intraocular Fluid Dynamics and Retinal Shear Stress after Vitrectomy and Gas Tamponade

Abstract

This study predicts that saccadic eye movements and normal head movements after vitrectomy and gas tamponade generate only small fluid shear stresses on the retina that are below published norms for retinal adhesion strength. Sudden, jerking head movements generate fluid shear forces similar to retinal adhesion strength that localize to the area of gas-fluid interface. Fluid sloshing occurs after movement, but rapidly decays on cessation of movement. These results suggest that restrictive posturing after vitrectomy and gas tamponade may be unnecessary. Patients should avoid sudden head movements.