Characterizing Biomechanics of Limbal Niche Using Vibrational Optical Coherence Elastography

The limbal niche is an adult source of epithelial stem cells which regenerate the cornea epithelium. The architecture and biomechanical properties of the limbus have previously been demonstrated to change due to aging and disease. This study aims to non-destructively and simultaneously quantify these limbal niche properties, along with their age-related changes. A lab-built vibrational optical coherence elastography (OCE) device consisting of a phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography (OCT) with a vibrational stimulator has been used to collect structural images and the depth-resolved elasticity of human corneoscleral tissues (aged 4-96 years old). The limbal palisades of Vogt (POV) were delineated well in OCT images which were validated by histology. The POVs have been spatially mapped with simultaneous elasticity measurements in cross-sections, showing tissue stiffness distributions across the undulations. A significant influence of age on the dimensions of the POVs was explored. The elastic modulus within the limbal niches for the ≥65-year-old group was significantly higher than that of the <65-year-old group.