Axisymmetric dispersal of hydrogen in the retina

The human retina is supported by two distinct vascular systems: the highly vascular choroid located behind the retina, and the retinal vascular system, which is designed to minimally disrupt the light path. The avascular retinal layer, situated between these two layers, relies on the diffusion of metabolites through the tissue as it has no circulation. Diseases affecting the microvasculature, such as diabetes and hyper-tension can threaten oxygen supply to these layers, potentially leading to loss of sight. Accurately modeling retinal blood flow is crucial for understanding retinal oxygen supply and the complications arising from systemic vascular diseases. In this paper, we consider a model of just the choroid and avascular layer assuming axisymmetric flow and diffusion, identifying the dispersion pattern from the central region outward. This model captures several significant features of the exchange process and highlights the effects that must be considered in developing more sophisticated models and interpreting experimental results.