Abstract
Purpose: :
The ability to predict and understand which biomechanical properties of the cornea are responsible for the stability or progression of keratoconus may be an important clinical and surgical tool for the modern eye–care professional. We have developed a finite element model of the cornea which predicts keratoconus and its evolution based on material properties of the corneal tissue and corneal topography.
Methods: :
Corneal material properties were modeled using bibliographic data and corneal topography was based on in vivo measurements taken on a commercial device. Commercial optical and finite element modeling software was used to simulate mechanical and surface shape properties when cornea was subject to different internal pressures and different regional elasticity.
Results: :
The simulation has shown that, depending on corneal initial surface shape, changes in regional material properties and also the IO pressure induces a localized protuberance. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed using in vivo corneal topography and wavefront keratoconus data.
Conclusions: :
This technique provides a more quantitative and accurate approach to the problem of understanding the biomechanical nature of keratoconus. The model implemented has shown that changes in regional material properties of the cornea and IO pressure may be intrinsically related to the keratoconus pathology and its shape/curvature profile.
Keywords: keratoconus • cornea: basic science • refractive surgery: optical quality