EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL STUDY ON DRY EYE SYNDROME AND AIRFLOW AROUND THE EYES

摘要

This paper reports on the relationship between dryness of the eyes and the airflow around the eyes. It has been pointed that the airflow around the eyes may play an important role in causing dry eye syndrome. First it is clarified by CFD analysis that a rising airflow around the human body forms a coating over the surface of the face. We can observe a clear boundary layer on the face in the CFD results. However, the boundary layer on the face disappears when there is a horizontal room airflow which is oncoming towards the face. Next, we measure the mass transfer coefficient of water on the surface of the human face and eye. It also became clear that the value of the mass transfer coefficient in the case with a horizontal room airflow is about 3 - 5 times larger than value in the case without a room airflow (calm air). Lastly, we photograph the iris of the eye under conditions with and without the oncoming airflow towards the face. When the subject is directly exposed to the supply jet from a personal air-conditioning system, the symptoms of dry eye syndrome appears clearly on the iris.