Abstract
The ‘Eye-on-a-Chip’ was presented by Chan et al. (2015a, 2015b) as a ‘microfluidic’ tool to assess emulsification of silicone oil (SO) tamponades used in vitreoretinal surgery. This device features a thin cylindrical cavity replicating a cross-section of the eye which rotates back and forward, driving the motion of an oil and an aqueous phase. Flow patterns were studied in Eye-on-a-Chip geometries fabricated from polymethylmethacrylate with 1 mm and 2 mm high cavities, for saline, 0.5 Pa s and 1.0 Pa s SOs, and saline/SO combinations using particle-image velocimetry. The flow behaviour and acceleration times for regular disc geometries indicated that fluid motion was driven by the base and roof of the cavity, while circulation flows characteristic of the eye were not observed. The presence of a lens insert created eddies near this feature. No emulsification was observed. The 2D ‘Eye-on-a-Chip’ does not replicate the flow characteristics of the human eye. Reports of emulsification being observed in the device are discussed in the light of these findings.
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