helium solubility in the eye!?!

[Rich Keller]

Helium is one of the smallest molecules on the periodic table so it will transfer into and out of the body faster then almost any other gas. It should not built up in the eye or anywhere else. That being said why in gods name are you diving on scuba at 200 meters!!!!!

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

All things being equal I would expect diffusion to be proportional to the area across which the diffusion is occurring. The surface area of the lungs is ~70 m^2 v. .001 m^2 for the eyes. Given the 70,000:1 ratio of area I’d expect gas transfer to be dominated by the lungs.

Also helium solubility in aqueous tissue is about a tenth of nitrogen solubility. So even with most trimix blends there were be more dissolved nitrogen in your eyes than helium.