Evaluation of Residual Corneal Stromal Bed Elasticity by Optical Coherence Elastography Based on Acoustic Radiation Force

Abstract

Despite the rapidly growing popularity of laser vision correction (LVC) in the correction of myopia, its quantitative evaluation has not been thoroughly investigated. In this paper, an acoustic radiation force–optical coherence elastography (ARF-OCE) system was proposed to evaluate LVC by measuring the residual stromal bed (RSB) elasticity, because it is directly relevant to the RSB thickness that is critical to maintaining normal corneal function. As expected, the Young’s modulus of the RSB was calculated, then its relationship with the RSB thickness was determined. More significantly, a specific thickness was revealed in which the Young’s modulus changed dramatically, which may imply that there is a high risk of complication caused by over-cutting of the cornea. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ARF-OCE imaging of the RSB, which may help to determine the safe RSB thickness and thus may help us to quantitatively assess LVC surgery.