Abstract
In this study, we investigated the relationship between the biomechanical properties of the crystalline lens and intraocular pressure (IOP) using a confocal acoustic radiation force (ARF) and phase-sensitive optical coherence elastography (OCE) system. ARF induced a small displacement at the apex of porcine lenses in situ at various artificially controlled IOPs. Maximum displacement, relaxation rate, and Young's modulus were utilized to assess the stiffness of the crystalline lens. The results showed that the stiffness of the crystalline increased as IOP increased, but the lens stiffening was not as significant as the stiffening of other ocular tissues such as the cornea and the sclera. A mechanical hysteresis in the lens was also observed while cycling IOP, indicating that the viscoelastic response of the lens is crucial to fully understanding its biomechanical properties.
Highlights
Presbyopia is a progressive, age-related loss of accommodation ability of the eye
We investigated the changes in the biomechanical properties of porcine lenses as a function of Intraocular pressure (IOP) using the previously developed optical coherence elastography (OCE) approach based on acoustic radiation force (ARF) excitation and a phase-sensitive OCE system
We investigated the influence of IOP on the biomechanical properties of in situ porcine crystalline lenses with OCE, and the results showed that the stiffness of the lenses increased when the IOP was elevated
Summary
There is strong evidence to suggest that the change in biomechanical properties of the crystalline lens plays a major role in the development of presbyopia [1,2,3]. The intraocular environment strongly influences the biomechanical properties and their measurements of the crystalline lens. IOP has a profound influence on the biomechanical properties of ocular tissues. Many ocular diseases, such as glaucoma and uveitis, are well-correlated with an elevation of IOP [5,6]. The location of the crystalline lens inside the eye-globe makes it very challenging to measure lens biomechanical properties in vivo or even in situ. The influence of IOP on the biomechanical properties of the crystalline lens has rarely been investigated, and their relationship has yet to be established
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