IN-VIVO SCLERAL AND CORNEAL BIOMECHANICS AS BIOMARKERS IN OPHTHALMIC PRACTICE

Abstract

As the relationship between biomechanical properties and abnormal tissue mechanics become more and more apparent in the field of ophthalmology, demand for in-vivo determination of biomechanical properties have also increased. While devices like the Ocular Response Analyser (ORA) have made the determination of these biomechanical properties clinically possible, the surrogate parameters (Corneal Hysteresis, Corneal Resistance Factor) generated from these devices are merely an estimation of the biomechanical properties of the cornea. These surrogate parameters cannot be used as material properties in a physically accurate finite element model. Neither can it be used to create finite element models capable of repeating the deformations experienced by the cornea during the ORA deformation process. An alternative solution is needed to determine such material properties accurately. By coupling the Corvis ST tonometer (CST) and/or CASIA anterior segment ocular coherence tomography (CASIA ASOCT) and the inverse finite element method (IFEM) it may be possible to determine material properties of the cornea and sclera.