A new technological know-how to measure lens stiffness affiliated with presbyopia

Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.Oct 6 2020

A College of Houston biomedical researcher is developing new know-how that will measure the stiffness of the lens in the eye, which is likely associated with presbyopia, or farsightedness, the inescapable and age-connected loss of the means to aim on nearby objects.

Presbyopia – which ultimately impacts each individual human remaining – is joined to a stiffening of the crystalline lens. There are presently many investigational strategies for presbyopia cure that count on lens softening or lens replacement with softer products. Drug-associated lens softening methods are anticipated to have a transformative affect on the discipline because they are non-invasive and they maintain the anatomical relationship in between the lens and other tissues associated in concentrating, but there is a important roadblock to establishing these treatments.

&#13

There is now no system obtainable to immediately measure lens stiffness and thus assess the efficacy of lens softening processes in vivo.”

&#13
&#13

Kirill Larin, Professor of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston

&#13

The Countrywide Eye Institute has awarded Larin $3 million to produce a new technological innovation capable of exact noninvasive and depth-settled quantitative measurements of the lens mechanical qualities in a clinical environment.

The technological know-how will merge Brillouin microscopy, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Optical Coherence Elastography (OCE) – a new mix to be termed BOE. The instrument will be made use of to generate the first age-dependent information on lens mechanical homes quantified in vivo as very well as quantitatively evaluate therapeutic techniques aimed to restore the ability to focus.

“Our novel BOE technologies can get complete measurements of the lens stiffness gradient with the precision and precision demanded to detect each age-connected improvements and changes induced by lens softening therapies,” stated Larin.

“The means to quantify lens softening in vivo will have a key affect on preclinical and clinical screening, validation and optimization of lens softening techniques.”

Larin has assembled a multidisciplinary team with know-how in optical coherence tomography and elastography, Brillouin technological know-how, biomechanical modeling, scientific ophthalmic instrumentation and crystalline lens physiology. The team involves Fabrice Manns, University of Miami Giuliano Scarcelli, College of Maryland and, Salavat Aglyamov, research assistant professor of mechanical engineering at UH.