Corneoscleral Biomechanics and Intraocular Pressure

描述(申请人提供)：角膜巩膜生物力学特性可能会影响短期眼压升高的特征，因此在个人患青光眼的易感性中起着重要作用。我们的假设是：(A)具有某些角巩膜生物力学特性(即低硬度)的眼睛更有能力抑制眼压(即更小、更慢和/或更短的隆起)，以及(B)这些角巩膜生物力学特性受到老化过程的影响，导致抑制眼压的能力降低。具体目标是：目标1：验证角巩膜生物力学特性影响短期动态眼压变化的预测。我们将在去核的犬球中检查自然变异或实验改变的角巩膜特性对眼压升高参数的影响。目的2：验证年龄相关的角巩膜生物力学特性的差异与眼睛抑制眼压能力的预测。我们将研究人类眼睛的生理和短期眼压动力学是否存在年龄相关的差异。然后，我们将研究年龄相关的眼压参数的差异是否可以用角巩膜生物力学特性的年龄相关差异来解释。一种新的超声技术将被用来非侵入性地测量人眼的角膜特性，为未来在体评估和监测角巩膜特性奠定了可行性。意义：拟议的研究将详细说明角巩膜的生物力学特性对短期眼压升高的影响，这将导致发现新的可测量和可修改的青光眼易感因素，这些因素将改善青光眼的临床治疗。 公共卫生相关性：眼压升高是青光眼的主要危险因素。这项研究将调查角巩膜生物力学特性如何影响短期眼压升高的特征，从而识别新的青光眼易感性的可测量指标。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Corneoscleral biomechanical properties may influence the characteristics of short-term IOP elevations, and thus play an important role in an individual's susceptibility to glaucoma. Our hypotheses are: (a) eyes with certain corneoscleral biomechanical properties (i.e., low stiffness) are more capable of damping IOP (i.e., smaller, slower, and/or shorter elevations), and (b) these corneoscleral biomechanical properties are affected by aging processes resulting in reduced capability to dampen IOP. The specific aims are: Aim 1: To test the prediction that corneoscleral biomechanical properties affect short-term, dynamic IOP variations. We will examine in enucleated canine globes the influence of the natural variance or experimentally altered corneoscleral properties on the parameters of IOP elevations. Aim 2: To test the prediction that age-associated differences in corneoscleral biomechanical properties are correlated with the eye's ability to dampen IOP. We will examine whether there are age-related differences in physiologic, short- term IOP dynamics in human eyes. We will then investigate whether the age-associated differences in IOP parameters can be explained by the age-associated differences in the corneoscleral biomechanical properties. A novel ultrasonic technique will be used to non-invasively measure corneal properties in the human eye, establishing feasibility for future in vivo assessment and monitoring of corneoscleral properties. Significance: The proposed studies will detail the influences of the biomechanical characteristics of the corneoscleral shell on short-term IOP elevations, which will lead to the discovery of new measurable and modifiable glaucoma susceptibility factors that will improve clinical management of glaucoma. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a primary risk factor for glaucoma. This study will investigate how corneoscleral biomechanical properties influence the characteristics of short-term IOP elevations, leading to the identification of new measurable indices for glaucoma susceptibility.