Biomechanics of the Cornea

The cornea is attached to the eyeball via the sclera, the white tissue surrounding it. It has the shape of a dome slightly larger horizontally than vertically. The displacement of the apex of the cornea is measured by a laser displacement sensor. The biomechanics of the cornea is analyzed using the displacement curve of the apex-pressure. Traction on a strip is one of the most classic experiments designed to obtain the mechanical properties of a material, including its Young’s modulus. One of the most recent techniques used to measure the mechanical properties of the cornea (and other soft tissues) is acoustic radiation elasticity microscopy. The cornea has a complex shape and nonlinear mechanical behavior. Modeling its mechanical response therefore requires a description of the geometry, material and load. Phenomenological models have very different levels of complexity depending on their intended applications.