Experimental Approaches to Ocular Biomechanics

Experimental Approaches to Ocular Biomechanics

Gianfranco Bianco - Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Abstract

The eye is a complex biomechanical system whose structural and material properties play a critical role in both normal vision and the development of blinding diseases such as glaucoma and myopia. Understanding how ocular tissues deform in response to physiological loads, including intraocular pressure and eye movements, has become increasingly important for identifying mechanisms of disease susceptibility and progression. However, measuring ocular biomechanics presents unique challenges due to the complex geometry, the viscoelastic nature, and heterogeneous composition of ocular tissues. This seminar will provide an overview of experimental approaches used to quantify the biomechanics of the eye. Topics will include in vivo imaging-based methods for measuring tissue deformation, ex vivo mechanical testing of ocular tissues, and emerging techniques for characterizing viscoelastic and dynamic biomechanical behavior. Particular emphasis will be placed on optical coherence tomography (OCT), digital image correlation (DIC), inflation testing, and rheological characterization of ocular soft tissues.