The physics of retinal delamination

Retinal detachments occur when adjacent layers of tissues comprising the retina delaminate from each other or from the underlying choriocapillaris substrate that feeds it. Taking into account experimentally measured mechanical and transport properties of retinal tissue, we build a physical model by treating the retina as a stack of layered, active, water permeable tissues bound by cellular adhesion forces. Our model provides a mechanistic and physiological understanding of how changes in active fluid pumping or tissue conductivity affect overall retinal stability. Theoretical predictions on the location of first retinal delamination may help guide prevention strategies and the development of new, physically-motivated retinal reattachment protocols.