# Shear Wave Optical Coherence Elastography and Structural Analysis of the Postnatal Mouse Cornea through Development

## TL;DR

This study examines how the cornea of postnatal mice develops by measuring its structure and mechanical properties over time.

## Contribution

The work provides the first detailed assessment of postnatal mouse corneal biomechanics and structure.

## Key findings

- Elastic wave speeds in the cornea are highest at postnatal day 6 and decrease until postnatal day 24.
- Corneal thickness does not correlate with elastic wave speed, suggesting other factors influence mechanical properties.
- The organization and content of the cornea are key determinants of its mechanical behavior.

## Abstract

The cornea is a transparent lens at the forefront of the eye, serving as a structural barrier that protects the eye and provides the majority of the eye's refractive power. In this study, we utilized the postnatal mouse eye to characterize corneal structure and biomechanics. Between postnatal day (PN) 6 and PN24, we observed that elastic wave speeds are highest at PN6, gradually decrease through PN24, and then start to rise in adulthood (6 months). We found that corneal thickness is uncoupled from elastic wave speed and that the content and organization of the cornea primarily influence its mechanical properties. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first detailed assessment of the postnatal mouse cornea's structure and biomechanics and warrants further investigation into the dynamic properties of the postnatal eye.

This paper investigates the geometrical and biomechanical properties of neonatal eyes at the early stages of development. We found that the corneal thickness is uncoupled from elastic wave speed and that the content and organization of the cornea primarily influence its mechanical properties.