Title :
Effects of storage and wound healing on corneal biomechanics
Author :
Coleman, John C. ; Beuerman, Roger W. ; Kaufman, Stephen ; Rice, David A.
Author_Institution :
Louisiana State Univ., Eye Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
Abstract :
Material testing techniques were used to characterize the mechanical properties of corneal tissue and to observe the effects of corneal storage and growth factors on these properties. Uniaxial stress-relaxation tests were performed on fresh and stored rabbit corneas. Fresh corneas recovered an average of 37.7% of first-pull stress while those stored in MK solution recovered an average of 76%. Stress-relaxation time constants were also found to be significantly different. Uniaxial tensile tests of fresh monkey corneas were performed to evaluate wound strengths of penetrating incisions treated with platelet derived growth factor (PDGF). Treated wounds demonstrated a greater failure strength than untreated wounds, indicating that corneal healing is enhanced in the presence of PDGF. Mechanical testing of corneal tissue is thus shown to be a useful technique for investigating changes in corneal structure.
Keywords :
biomechanics; eye; corneal biomechanics; corneal structure changes investigation; failure strength; first-pull stress; fresh monkey corneas; fresh rabbit corneas; penetrating incisions; platelet derived growth factor; storage effects; time constants; uniaxial stress-relaxation tests; uniaxial tensile tests; wound healing; wound strengths; Biomechanics; Cornea; Material storage; Materials testing; Mechanical factors; Performance evaluation; Rabbits; Strips; Surgery; Wounds;
Conference_Titel :
Biomedical Engineering Conference, 1993., Proceedings of the Twelfth Southern
Conference_Location :
New Orleans, LA, USA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-0976-6
DOI :
10.1109/SBEC.1993.247392