PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to find out if the viscous friction forces could, from the quantitative point of view, act as possible promoters of ocular stabilization keeping the rotational movements and give an idea of the necessary amount for the applicability to the ocular system. METHODS: A mechanic model was made to measure the necessary forces to overcome the friction of the aluminium sphere partially kept in a viscous liquid. Methylcellulose solutions at 1% to 6% (with a variation of 0.5%) and viscoelastic products (Viscoat® and Provisc®) were tested. Another variable was the area of contact between the sphere and the viscous liquid. RESULTS: The force that was found, after appropriate corrections and discounts, was meaningful (over 5 gf) only in the of methylcellulose solutions at 5.5% and 6% and only in the largest area of the tested contact. CONCLUSION: The tested viscous liquids are apparently not able to obtain sufficient friction force for ocular stabilization, except for the methylcellulose solutions at 5.5% and 6%, but only in the largest area of the tested contact (which corresponded to 26.2% of the total area of the sphere).
Strabismus; Ocular movements; Oculomotor muscles; Nystagmus; physiologic; Viscosity
