Quantification of scleral biomechanics and collagen fiber alignment

Abstract

The stiffness of the sclera is important in several ocular disorders, and there is hence a need to quantify the biomechanical properties of this tissue. Here, we present two methods for measuring the stiffness of scleral ocular tissues: ocular compliance testing and digital image correlation strain mapping. In tandem with these approaches, we provide two methods to spatially quantify the anisotropic alignment of collagen fibers making up the sclera, using second harmonic generation microscopy and small-angle light scattering. Together, these approaches allow specimen-specific measurement of tissue stiffness and collagen alignment, which are key factors in determining how the eye responds to mechanical loads.