Measuring Human Corneal Stromal Biomechanical Properties Using Tensile Testing Combined With Optical Coherence Tomography

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

Yi Song¹  Yong Cai¹  Like Wang²  Yan Wang³  Di Wu⁴  Yongping Zheng⁵  Min Shen⁶  Congzheng Wang⁶  George P.M. Cheng⁷  Chao Xue⁸ 

[1] Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China;Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;Nankai University Eye Institute, Nankai University Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nankai University, Tianjin, China;Pacific University College of Optometry, Forest Grove, OR, United States;Research Institute for Smart Ageing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China;School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Tianjin, China;

关键词: cornea;    biomechanical properties;    tensile testing;    optical coherence tomography;    dynamic response parameters;    myopia;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fbioe.2022.882392

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Purpose: To investigate the ex vivo elastic modulus of human corneal stroma using tensile testing with optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging and its correlation with in vivo measurements using corneal visualization Scheimpflug technology.Methods: Twenty-four corneal specimens extracted from stromal lenticules through small incision lenticule extraction were cut into strips for uniaxial tensile tests. In vivo corneal biomechanical responses were evaluated preoperatively using the corneal visualization Scheimpflug technology (CorVis ST). The correlation of the elastic modulus with clinical characteristics and dynamic corneal response parameters were analyzed using Spearman’s correlation analysis.Results: The mean low strain tangent modulus (LSTM) of the human corneal stroma was 0.204 ± 0.189 (range 0.010–0.641) MPa, and high strain tangent modulus (HSTM) 5.114 ± 1.958 (range 2.755–9.976) MPa. Both LSTM (r = 0.447, p = 0.029) and HSTM (r = 0.557, p = 0.005) were positively correlated with the stress-strain index (SSI). LSTM was also positively correlated with the A1 deflection length (r = 0.427, p = 0.037) and A1 deflection area (r = 0.441, p = 0.031). HSTM was positively correlated with spherical equivalent (r = 0.425, p = 0.038).Conclusions: The correlation of corneal elastic modulus with A1 deflection parameters and SSI may indicate a relationship between these parameters and tissue elasticity. The HSTM decreased with the degree of myopia. Combining tensile test with OCT may be a promising approach to assess corneal biomechanical properties.

【 授权许可】

Unknown