Assessment of Biomechanical Properties for Corneal Post Refractive Surgery

TL;DR

This paper investigates the biomechanical properties of corneal tissue before and after refractive surgery using ultrasonic acoustic radiation force impulse to improve diagnosis and understanding of corneal stability and pathogenesis.

Contribution

It introduces a non-invasive ultrasonic method combined with FEM simulations to estimate corneal biomechanical properties pre- and post-refractive surgery, enhancing diagnostic capabilities.

Findings

Ultrasound-based assessment effectively estimates corneal biomechanics.

FEM simulations optimize probe design for accurate measurements.

The method distinguishes between normal and pathogenic corneal tissue.

Abstract

A stable shape for corneas experiencing refractive surgery has to be sustained so as to elude post-refractive surgery de-compensation. This de-compensation leads to visual complications and unsatisfactory procedure recovery. Variation in corneal lamellae and collagen fibres is induced by recent LASER refractive surgical procedures utilizing LASER ablation and disruption techniques. Conserving a steady response of central apex flattening and peripheral steepening in an elastic cornea pre- and post- procedure is the ultimate purpose of successful refractive surgery. Early diagnosis of ectatic corneal disorders and better understanding of corneal pathogenesis is achieved by assessment of corneal biomechanical properties. The ultimate objective of this research is to estimate the biomechanical properties for both normal and pathogenic corneal tissue pre- and post-operative refractive surgery. This achieved using ultrasonic acoustic radiation force impulse as a non-invasive method accounting for its high localization. Induced displacement tracking methods will be utilized for assessment of soft tissue biomechanical properties related to the investigated soft tissue. Ultrasound probe simulations will be carried out to optimize the probe design. FEM simulations will take place to precisely estimate in-situ corneal tissue biomechanics. In this research, corneal biomechanical properties are studied and estimated using acoustic radiation force impulse. This is achieved either by estimating the focal peak axial deformation value or by estimating the shear wave speed for the resulting propagating deformation wave.