Evaluation of the biomechanical properties of the posterior eye using Shear wave Elastography in patients with increased intracranial pressure

Abstract

Aims: This study aims to investigate the biomechanical properties of the posterior eye using the shear wave elastography (SWE) in increased intracranial pressure (ICP) patients and healthy subjects. Material and methods: This study enrolled 54 healthy subjects and 54 patients with increased ICP, including 29 patients with space-occupying lesions (SOLs) and 25 patients with intracranial haemorrhage (ICH). Optic nerve sheath diameter and the stiffness of the optic nerve head, peripapillary sclera and optic nerve were evaluated. Results: Patients with increased ICP had a significantly higher optic nerve sheath diameter, Young’s modulus of optic nerve head, and Young’s modulus of peripapillary sclera than healthy subjects (p<0.01 for all). The optic nerve sheath diameter, Young’s modulus of optic nerve head and Young’s modulus of the peripapillary sclera were similar between the SOLs group and ICH group (p>0.05 for all). Young’s modulus of the optic nerve in the ICH group was similar to the control group (p>0.05), whereas the SOLs group had higher Young’s modulus of optic nerve comparing the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The stiffness of the optic nerve head and peripapillary sclera were higher in patients with increased ICP than healthy subjects, and the optic nerve stiffness of SOLs patients was the highest in all subjects. The SWE could provide a quantitative analysis of the posterior eye’s biomechanical properties and help the clinic diagnose the degree of visual impairments.