Quantification of mechanical-cytoskeletal coupling in human corneal cells across myopia severity

Myopia is a prevalent refractive eye disorder closely associated with alterations in corneal biomechanical properties. As fundamental units of corneal tissue, corneal cells significantly influence myopia progression through their nanomechanical characteristics. However, the biophysical mechanisms underlying this process, particularly in human corneal cells, remain unclear. This study investigates the coupling between mechanical properties and cytoskeletal morphology in human corneal cells across varying myopia severity levels. Utilizing atomic force microscopy (AFM), the Young's modulus and adhesion properties of corneal cells obtained from patients with low, moderate, and high myopia were assessed. Additionally, the cytoskeletal morphological variations were quantified by calculating the fractal dimension from AFM topography images. Experimental results reveal that with increasing myopia severity, corneal cells exhibit decreased stiffness, increased adhesion, and reduced regularity and stability of the cytoskeletal network. This evidence highlights a coupling relationship between biomechanical properties and cytoskeletal morphology in human corneal cells during myopia development at the cellular scale, offering significant insights into the pathogenesis of myopia and potential avenues for innovative preventive strategies. VIDEO ABSTRACT.