Motion-Tracking Brillouin Microscopy Evaluation of Normal, Keratoconic, and Post–Laser Vision Correction Corneas

中文摘要

本研究利用運動追蹤布里侖顯微鏡 (motion-tracking Brillouin microscopy) 比較正常角膜、圓錐角膜(keratoconus) 和雷射視力矯正 (LVC) 後的角膜之生物力學(biomechanics)差異。目的是在不侵入的情況下，直接獲取現場角膜生物力學數據，以促進更準確的LVC和角膜交聯 (CXL) 篩查和治療算法的發展。利用布里侖顯微鏡的非紊流、光學機械測量技術，對角膜進行了高分辨率的力學分析。研究結果也確認了雷射視力矯正手術後角膜的生物力學變化。這項研究探討了正常角膜和角膜圓錐的深度相關角膜僵硬度(stiffness)差異。角膜的機械特性取決於組織水合作用(hydration)，並且水合變化會影響布里温顯微鏡的讀數。此研究調查了接受激光視力矯正手術很久的患者，因此對角膜的影響應該很小。儘管布里温位移的最小值和平均值在區分早期圓錐角膜患者和正常對照組方面表現良好，但這些眼睛已經相對容易使用各種臨床影像設備進行鑑別。我們還沒有評估運動追蹤布里温成像在區分疑似圓錐角膜和正常對照組方面的效果。最後，由於穩定的激光視力矯正手術和角膜圓錐眼睛在許多布里温指標之間存在重疊，還有很多工作需要進一步進行生物力學鑑別，因為它們的臨床病程明顯不同。在區分早期角膜圓錐和對照組方面，多個布里温位移參數的表現優於任何臨床指標。

English Abstract

The purpose of the study was to analyze the biomechanical differences between normal, keratoconic, and post-laser vision correction (LVC) corneas using motion-tracking Brillouin microscopy. The goal was to develop more accurate screening protocols and treatment algorithms for LVC and keratoconus. The study utilized a 3D motion-tracking Brillouin microscope to map corneal biomechanics. The results showed significant differences in Brillouin shift values between the different corneal groups. However, there was still some overlap in biomechanical metrics, indicating the need for further research.The content discusses the presence of depth-dependent corneal stiffness differences in both normal and keratoconic corneas. It highlights that the mechanical properties of the cornea depend on tissue hydration, which can affect readings obtained through Brillouin microscopy. The study investigates patients who had undergone laser vision correction (LVC) and suggests that there may be a need for enhanced depth assessment in the keratoconus population. In terms of distinguishing between early keratoconus and normal controls, Brillouin shift parameters perform better than clinical Scheimpflug metrics. However, more work needs to be done to differentiate stable LVC eyes from keratoconus eyes due to overlap in some Brillouin metrics.