Scleral anisotropy in ex vivo rabbit eyes using ultrasonic optical coherence elastography

Lupe Villegas; Fernando Zvietcovich; Susana Marcos; Judith S. Birkenfeld

doi:10.1117/12.3005441

12 March 2024 Scleral anisotropy in ex vivo rabbit eyes using ultrasonic optical coherence elastography

Lupe Villegas, Fernando Zvietcovich, Susana Marcos, Judith S. Birkenfeld

Proceedings Volume 12844, Optical Elastography and Tissue Biomechanics XI; 1284409 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3005441
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2024, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

The mechanical properties of the sclera are important for the integrity of the eye. Because of the distribution of collagen fibers, the sclera is structurally anisotropic, with highly aligned fibers at the limbus and more unaligned fibers in the posterior region. Noninvasive measurements to quantify structural anisotropy remain a challenge. In this study, multimeridian air-coupled ultrasonic optical coherence elastography (ACUS-OCE) was used to assess mechanical anisotropy at different locations of the sclera and the cornea in ex vivo rabbit eyes. The ACUS-OCE consists of a 200 kHz aircoupled ultrasonic transducer connected to a phase-sensitive swept source OCT system for non-contact excitation of surface waves in ocular tissue. Rabbit eyes (n=7) were measured at a constant intraocular pressure while the system generated elastic surface waves at the corneal and four scleral sites (superior/inferior temporal and superior/inferior nasal). Multi-meridian acquisition configuration allowed estimation of the phase speed at 16 angles (8 meridians) of each location, from which tissue anisotropy was calculated. Assessment of an anisotropic parameter showed that the sclera is at least 3 times (p≤.002) more anisotropic than the cornea. The results indicate a stiffer anterior sclera than the cornea and posterior sclera, and a greater scleral anisotropy than the corneal anisotropy.

Conference Presentation

(2024) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Citation Download Citation

Lupe Villegas, Fernando Zvietcovich, Susana Marcos, and Judith S. Birkenfeld "Scleral anisotropy in ex vivo rabbit eyes using ultrasonic optical coherence elastography", Proc. SPIE 12844, Optical Elastography and Tissue Biomechanics XI, 1284409 (12 March 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3005441

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