Measuring Outflow Facility And Ocular Compliance In Ex Vivo Mouse Eyes Using A Syringe-pump System

Maintaining intraocular pressure (IOP) at a suitable and stable level is essential for ocular health. The biomechanical properties of the trabecular meshwork (TM), Schlemm's canal (SC), and the entire corneoscleral shell play a crucial role in IOP homeostasis. Outflow facility (C) is a key parameter for evaluating the effectiveness of TM and SC in draining aqueous humor, while ocular compliance (ϕ) reflects the elasticity of the corneoscleral shell and transient outflow through TM and SC. Previously, a simple, cost-effective syringe-pump system was developed to assess C. However, using simple linear regression for in vivo data analysis has limitations in characterizing TM and SC function. In this study, the syringe-pump system was optimized by applying analytical approaches developed for established pressure-controlled ocular perfusion systems. The measured C and ϕ values in ex vivo eyes were compared with previously published perfusion-system values and were consistent with those reported ranges. In summary, this straightforward, low-cost syringe-pump system facilitates the evaluation of the biomechanical properties of TM and SC.