Non-invasive assessments of biomechanical and biochemical properties in animal and human eyes using multi-modal MRI

Abstract

The microstructural organization and compositions of the corneoscleral shell are central to ocular biomechanics, and are important in diseases such as glaucoma and myopia. In this study, we showed that T2-weighted MRI, diffusion tensor MRI and magnetization transfer MRI can be used to detect and differentiate microstructural and macromolecular changes in freshly prepared ovine eyes under different abnormal conditions including intraocular pressure loading, cross-linking and glycosaminoglycans depletion. We also demonstrated the feasibility of assessing the human sclera with in vivo MRI. Multi-modal MRI may be useful for evaluating the biomechanical and pathophysiological mechanisms in the corneoscleral shell non-invasively and quantitatively.