Automated Compression Testing of the Ocular Lens

Summary

We present an automated method for characterizing the effective elastic modulus of an ocular lens using a compression test.

Abstract

The biomechanical properties of the ocular lens are essential to its function as a variable power optical element. These properties change dramatically with age in the human lens, resulting in a loss of near vision called presbyopia. However, the mechanisms of these changes remain unknown. Lens compression offers a relatively simple method for assessing the lens' biomechanical stiffness in a qualitative sense and, when coupled with appropriate analytical techniques, can help quantify biomechanical properties. A variety of lens compression tests have been performed to date, including both manual and automated, but these methods inconsistently apply key aspects of biomechanical testing such as preconditioning, loading rates, and time between measurements. This paper describes a fully automated lens compression test wherein a motorized stage is synchronized with a camera to capture the force, displacement, and shape of the lens throughout a preprogrammed loading protocol. A characteristic elastic modulus may then be calculated from these data. While demonstrated here using porcine lenses, the approach is appropriate for the compression of lenses of any species.

Introduction

The lens is the transparent and flexible organ found in the eye that allows it to focus on different distances by changing its refractive power. This ability is known as accommodation. The refractive power is altered due to the contraction and relaxation of the ciliary muscle. When the ciliary muscle contracts, the lens thickens and moves forward, increasing its refractive power^1,2. The increase in refractive power allows the lens to focus on nearby objects. As humans age, the lens becomes stiffer and this ability to accommodate is gradually lost; this condition is known as presbyopia. The mechanism of stiffen....

Protocol

Pig eyes were obtained from a local abattoir. No ethical committee approvals were required.

1. Lens dissection (Figure 1)

1. Remove all the surrounding tissue from the pig eyes and excess flesh from the sclera, until only the optic nerve remains. Use curved forceps and small dissection scissors to complete this process. Use the nerve as an anchor to hold the eye during dissection.
2. Using a scalpel, make a short c.......

Discussion

Lens compression is a versatile method for estimating lens stiffness. The procedures described above allow comparison between lenses of different species and different sizes. All deformations are normalized against lens size, and the calculation of the elastic modulus approximately accounts for lens size. The effective modulus is considerably higher than the modulus reported previously for the porcine lens^4,7,11,

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Curved Medium Point General Purpose Forceps	Fisherbrand	16-100-110
Galil COM Libraries	Galil Motion Control
High Precision Scalpel Handle	Fisherbrand	12-000-164
Linear Stage	McMaster-Carr	6734K4 0.125"
Load Cell	FUTEK	LSB200-FSH03869
Load Cell Amplifier	FUTEK	IAA300-FSH03931
MATLAB	The Mathworks, Inc.
Microprobe	Surgical Design	22-079-740
Miniature Self Opening Precision Scissors	Excelta	63042-004
Motion Controller	Galil Motion Control	DMC-31012
Motor	Galil Motion Control	BLM-N23-50-1000-B
Straight Hemastats	Fine Science	NC9247203	stainless steel, 14cm