Measuring the elastic wave velocity in the lens of the eye as a function of intraocular pressure using optical coherent elastography

The dependence of the elastic properties of the eye lens on the intraocular pressure is investigated in porcine eyes ex vivo. To measure the stiffness of the lens, the method of dynamic optical coherent elastography is used, in which the propagation velocity of surface elastic waves in the lens is measured using phase-sensitive optical coherent tomography. Measurement data show an increase in Young's modulus of the lens by ~30% with an increase in intraocular pressure from 10 to 40 mm Hg. This result allows us to conclude that the effect of intraocular pressure on the rigidity of the lens is less significant than on the rigidity of other eye tissues, such as the cornea and sclera. The method of optical coherent elastography makes it possible to measure the elastic properties of the lens without removing it from the eyeball and has considerable potential for clinical use.