Stress amplification and plastic flow for spheroidal shells: Applications to myopia

Abstract

Amplification of effective stress and plastic strain rates after yielding are derived for the anisotropic stress fields of the prolate and oblate spheroidal shells as models of the myopic and hyperopic eyes. Dimensionless closed-form results are presented for arbitrary axis ratio with both constant shell thickness and variable shell thickness, using the constant scleral mass assumption. The results show that the myopic and hyperopic eyes are susceptible to failure by plastic yielding at the equator and pole, respectively, for high intraocular pressures. Experimental data from the equatorial zone of rabbit sclera shows scleral yielding and plastic flow for intraocular pressures greater than 32 mm Hg. Practical applications include glaucoma and pathological myopia.