Corneoscleral Biomechanics and Intraocular Pressure

描述（由申请人提供）：角巩膜生物力学特性可能影响短期IOP升高的特征，因此在个体对青光眼的易感性中起重要作用。我们的假设是：（a）具有某些角巩膜生物力学特性的眼睛（即，低刚度）更能够阻尼IOP（即，更小、更慢和/或更短的升高），和（B）这些角巩膜生物力学性质受到老化过程的影响，导致降低IOP的能力。具体目标是：目标1：测试角巩膜生物力学特性影响短期动态IOP变化的预测。我们将在摘除的犬眼球中检查自然变化或实验改变的角巩膜特性对IOP升高参数的影响。目标二：测试年龄相关的角巩膜生物力学特性差异与眼睛抑制IOP的能力相关的预测。我们将检查在人眼中生理性短期IOP动力学是否存在年龄相关的差异。然后，我们将研究眼内压参数的年龄相关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。一种新的超声波技术将被用于非侵入性地测量人眼的角膜特性，为将来的角膜巩膜特性的体内评估和监测建立可行性。 重要性：拟议的研究将详细说明角巩膜壳的生物力学特性对短期IOP升高的影响，这将导致发现新的可测量和可改变的青光眼易感性因素，从而改善青光眼的临床管理。

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.