Improving early detection of keratoconus by Non Contact Tonometry. A computational study and new biomarkers proposal

Redaelli, Elena (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Nana, Michael ; Calvo, Begoña (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Rodríguez Matas, José Félix ; Luraghi, Giulia ; Rozema, Jos ; Grasa, Jorge (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Keratoconus is a progressive ocular disorder affecting the corneal tissue, leading to irregular astigmatism and decreased visual acuity. The architectural organization of corneal tissue is altered in keratoconus, however, data from ex vivo testing of biomechanical properties of keratoconic corneas are limited and it is unclear how their results relate to true mechanical properties in vivo. This study explores the mechanical properties of keratoconic corneas through numerical simulations of non-contact tonometry (NCT) reproducing the clinical test of the Corvis ST device. Three sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the impact of corneal material properties, size, and location of the pathological area on NCT results. Additionally, novel asymmetry-based indices were proposed to better characterize corneal deformations and improve the diagnosis of keratoconus. Our results show that the weakening of corneal material properties leads to increased deformation amplitude and altered biomechanical response. Furthermore, asymmetry indices offer valuable information for locating the pathological tissue. These findings suggest that adjusting the Corvis ST operation, such as a camera rotation, could enhance keratoconus detection and provide insights into the relative position of the affected area. Future research could explore the application of these indices in detecting early-stage keratoconus and assessing the fellow eye's risk for developing the pathology

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2024.106413

Año: 2024

Publicado en: Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials 152 (2024), 106413 [10 pp.]
ISSN: 1751-6161

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/956720/EU/Opto-Biomechanical Eye Research Network/OBERON
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/UZ/ICTS NANBIOSIS-CIBER-BBN
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/UZ/ICTS NANBIOSIS-U27 Unit-CIBER-BBN

Tipo y forma: Artículo (Versión definitiva)

Área (Departamento): Área Mec.Med.Cont. y Teor.Est. (Dpto. Ingeniería Mecánica)