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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Simulating the Mechanics of Lens Accommodation via a Manual Lens Stretcher
Published on: February 23, 2018
Elasticity of tissues involved in accommodation
1The Netherlands Ophthalmic Research Institute, Amsterdam.
Abstract:
Uniaxial loading of human lens, zonules, ciliary muscle, and choroid shows a nonlinear relationship between stress and deformation of the specimen, and hysteresis on unloading. Spring constants, at 10% elongation, have been calculated for all specimens and for several combinations. Except for zonules they are significantly correlated with age. They will provide a basis for a model of accommodation. The mean force required for 10% elongation of the lens, at mean age 43, is about 22 x greater than for the zonules; and the mean elongation of the zonules is nearly 7 x that of the lens at a load of 0.01 N (approximately 1 g). Ranges of forces and pressures in the accommodated and nonaccommodated eye are estimated.
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