TITLE:
Non-Invasive and Non-Destructive Determination of Corneal and Scleral Biomechanics Using Vibrational Optical Coherence Tomography: Preliminary Observations
AUTHORS:
Frederick H. Silver, Ruchit G. Shah, Dominick Benedetto
KEYWORDS:
Collagen, Cornea, Sclera, Skin, Biomechanics, Vibrational OCT, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), Modulus, Resonant Frequency, Mechanical Properties, Myopia, Keratoconus, Glaucoma
JOURNAL NAME:
Materials Sciences and Applications,
Vol.9 No.7,
June
29,
2018
ABSTRACT: Experimental measurements made in this study on human and porcine eyes
suggest that the resonant frequency for both cornea and sclera varies from 130
to 150 Hz and increases slightly with increasing intraocular pressure. The
values of the moduli calculated using the experimental values of the thickness
are close to 2 MPa. Similar values of the modulus for cornea and sclera suggest
that there is very little stress concentration at the cornea-scleral junction
and that any stress concentration that occurs probably resides at the scleral
attachment laterally and posteriorly. These moduli are close to those measured in vivo on human skin suggesting that
the mechanism of tensile deformation of skin, cornea and sclera are similar.
Our results suggest that the modulus of cornea and sclera can be measured
non-invasively and non-destructively using vibrational OCT. Results of these
studies will assist clinicians to better understand the influence of
biomechanics on the outcome of corneal refractive surgery as well as the pathogenesis of
eye disorders such as glaucoma, myopia and keratoconus.