The crystalline lens and cornea comprise the eye's optical system for focusing light in human vision. The changes in biomechanical properties of the lens and cornea are closely associated with common diseases, including presbyopia and cataract. Currently, most in vivo elasticity studies of the anterior eye focus on the measurement of the cornea, while lens measurement remains challenging. To better understand the anterior segment of the eye, we developed an optical coherence elastography system utilizing acoustic radiation force excitation to simultaneously assess the elasticities of the crystalline lens and the cornea in vivo. A swept light source was integrated into the system to provide an enhanced imaging range that covers both the lens and the cornea. Additionally, the oblique imaging approach combined with orthogonal excitation also improved the image quality. The system was tested through first ex vivo and then in vivo experiments using a rabbit model. The elasticities of corneal and lens tissue in an excised normal whole-globe and a cold cataract model were measured to reveal that cataractous lenses have a higher Young's modulus. Simultaneous in vivo elasticity measurements of the lens and cornea were performed in a rabbit model to demonstrate the correlations between elasticity and intraocular pressure and between elasticity and age. To the best of our knowledge, we demonstrated the first in vivo elasticity of imaging of both the lens and cornea using acoustic radiation force-optical coherence elastography, thereby providing a potential powerful clinical tool to advance ophthalmic research in disorders affecting the lens and the cornea.

中文翻译：

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使用具有声辐射力激发的光学相干弹性成像同时成像和量化晶状体和角膜的体内机械特性。

晶状体和角膜构成眼睛的光学系统，用于在人类视觉中聚焦光线。晶状体和角膜生物力学特性的变化与老花眼、白内障等常见疾病密切相关。目前，大多数前眼的体内弹性研究都集中在角膜的测量上，而晶状体的测量仍然具有挑战性。为了更好地了解眼前节，我们开发了一种光学相干弹性成像系统，利用声辐射力激发来同时评估体内晶状体和角膜的弹性。扫描光源集成到系统中，以提供覆盖晶状体和角膜的增强成像范围。此外，倾斜成像方法结合正交激发也提高了图像质量。该系统首先通过体外实验，然后使用兔子模型进行体内实验。测量切除的正常全球和冷白内障模型中角膜和晶状体组织的弹性，以揭示白内障晶状体具有较高的杨氏模量。在兔子模型中同时进行晶状体和角膜的体内弹性测量，以证明弹性和眼压之间以及弹性和年龄之间的相关性。据我们所知，我们首次展示了使用声辐射力-光学相干弹性成像对晶状体和角膜成像的体内弹性，