The majority of the eye's refractive power lies in the cornea, and pathological changes in its shape can affect vision. Small animal models offer an unparalleled degree of control over genetic and environmental factors that can help elucidate mechanisms of diseases affecting corneal shape. However, there is not currently a method to characterize the corneal shape of small animal eyes with topography or pachymetry maps, as is done clinically for humans. We bridge this gap by demonstrating methods using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to generate the first topography and pachymetry (thickness) maps of mouse corneas. Radii of curvature acquired using OCT were validated using calibration spheres as well as in vivo mouse corneas with a mouse keratometer. The resulting topography and pachymetry maps are analogous to those used diagnostically in clinic and potentially allow for characterization of genetically modified mice that replicate key features of human corneal disease.

中文翻译：

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使用光学相干断层扫描绘制小鼠角膜的地形图和厚度图。


眼睛的大部分屈光力位于角膜，其形状的病理变化会影响视力。小动物模型对遗传和环境因素具有无与伦比的控制能力，有助于阐明影响角膜形状的疾病机制。然而，目前还没有一种方法可以像临床上对人类所做的那样，通过地形或厚度图来表征小动物眼睛的角膜形状。我们通过演示使用光学相干断层扫描（OCT）生成小鼠角膜的第一个地形和厚度（厚度）图的方法来弥补这一差距。使用校准球以及小鼠角膜曲率计对体内小鼠角膜验证使用 OCT 获得的曲率半径。由此产生的地形图和厚度图与临床诊断中使用的图类似，并且可能允许对复制人类角膜疾病关键特征的转基因小鼠进行表征。