Automatic recording of corneal thickness in vitro

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Corneal Physiology

Background:

• The corneal endothelial fluid pump is crucial for maintaining corneal transparency.
• Assessing the efficacy of storage media for excised corneas is vital for transplantation success.
• Accurate and continuous monitoring of corneal thickness is needed to evaluate fluid pump function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an automated system for measuring excised cornea thickness over extended periods.
• To evaluate the performance of a novel storage medium for excised corneas.
• To improve the assessment of corneal endothelial function in vitro.

Main Methods:

• An automated specular microscopy system was developed to record corneal thickness.
• The system mechanically scans the microscope's focus through the excised cornea.
• A photo-electric system detects reflecting surfaces, with data logged on a chart recorder.

Main Results:

• The automated system accurately tracks corneal thickness changes over many hours.
• The system's accuracy surpasses manual measurement methods.
• The developed system facilitated the evaluation of a new corneal storage medium.

Conclusions:

• The automated specular microscope attachment provides a reliable method for monitoring excised cornea thickness.
• This technology aids in the development and evaluation of improved corneal preservation solutions.
• The findings support extending the functional lifetime of the corneal endothelial fluid pump for research and clinical applications.