Instituto de Óptica “Daza de Valdés”

A simple computational model for scleral stiffness assessments via air-puff deformation OCT

A simple computational model for scleral stiffness assessments via air-puff deformation OCT

VioBio-en

  • A new computational model allows noninvasive assessment of sclera stiffness, opening up new possibilities for diagnosing ocular pathologies.

  • The combination of air puff and recording of the resulting deformation by means of optical coherence tomography offers an advanced tool for studying the properties of the external structure of the eye in real time.

Madrid / September 10, 2024

Researchers from the Instituto de Óptica “Daza de Valdés” of the CSIC and the Center for Visual Science at the University of Rochester have published a study that presents a computational model to evaluate the stiffness of the sclera (the external, white part of the eye) through air puff deformation and OCT (optical coherence tomography) imaging. This advance offers a new tool to study the mechanical properties of the sclera in vivo, which could have significant implications for the diagnosis and treatment of pathologies such as myopia or keratoconus.

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The sclera is the tissue that makes up the outer layer of the eye and plays a crucial role in maintaining its shape and protecting its internal structures. The mechanical properties of the sclera, such as its stiffness, are closely related to the shape of the eye and changes in these properties are thought to contribute to the development of ocular pathologies, such as myopia. Traditionally, the study of scleral stiffness has been performed using invasive or ex vivo techniques, which prevents its applicability in clinical studies. In this context, air puff deformation imaging, a technique that induces and measures deformation of ocular tissue, is a promising noninvasive tool.
This study explores the use of a computational model that combines this technique with optical coherence tomography (OCT) to accurately and in real time assess sclera stiffness.

In this study, researchers developed a computational model using the finite element technique to simulate sclera deformation in response to an air puff. They used experimental data obtained from ex vivo rabbit eyes to validate the model. The model allowed parametric studies in which different parameters, such as tissue thickness, material properties, and intraocular pressure, were systematically varied to observe their influence on scleral deformation. The model results were compared to experimental measurements to assess its accuracy and ability to predict scleral stiffness, providing a robust tool to study the mechanical properties of the sclera noninvasively.

Two microscope photographs of an eye at rest and another deformed by the blowing of air
OCT image with the experimental profile of the eye deformation by the air puff in red and the profile obtained with the model in blue. / Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
The research team says that the air-puff deformation imaging technique could be used in the future to develop more advanced computational models of the mechanical properties of the sclera. These models could be applied to study the effect of the sclera in healthy and myopic eyes, as well as to assess changes in scleral tissue stiffness after scleral strengthening treatments such as scleral cross-linking (CXL). This suggests that future research projects could focus on the clinical application of this technique for the diagnosis and treatment of scleral pathologies.

This study builds on previous research that has explored the use of corneal air-puff deformation imaging, extending and improving these techniques to assess scleral stiffness.

Article: Andres De La Hoz, Lupe Villegas, Susana Marcos, Judith S. Birkenfeld “A simple computational model for scleral stiffness assessments via air-puff deformation OCT”. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 12, art. no. 1426060-esclerotica

IO-CSIC Communication
cultura.io@io.cfmac.csic.es

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