A Novel Approach to Fabricate Early Keratoconus Phantom Models

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Corneal Biomechanics

Background:

• Keratoconus is a progressive thinning disorder of the cornea.
• Early diagnosis of keratoconus is crucial for effective management.
• Understanding corneal biomechanics is key to diagnosing keratoconus.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel method for fabricating early keratoconus phantom models.
• To evaluate the feasibility of using these corneal models for studying the dynamic response to air puff tonometry.
• To assess the potential of these models for understanding keratoconus progression.

Main Methods:

• Designed and fabricated corneal phantoms using a two-step molding process.
• Created two types of early keratoconus phantoms with localized reduced mechanical properties.
• Utilized Corneal Visualization Scheimpflug Technology tonometry to record dynamic corneal response (DCR) parameters.

Main Results:

• Normal corneal phantom DCR parameters showed trends consistent with ex vivo animal eye data.
• Significant differences in key DCR parameters (HCDA, PD, HR, A1V, A2V, A1T, A2T, IR) were observed between keratoconus and normal phantoms.
• The fabricated models demonstrated distinct biomechanical responses indicative of early keratoconus.

Conclusions:

• The developed early keratoconus phantom models are feasible for studying dynamic corneal responses.
• These models offer a viable platform for investigating keratoconus biomechanics.
• The findings support the use of phantom models for advancing early keratoconus diagnosis.