PURPOSE
To demonstrate the importance of material properties of the cornea in intraocular pressure (IOP) readings via standard Goldmann applanation tonometry.
METHODS
A realistic finite element model of the cornea was developed for the simulation of Goldmann applanation tonometry. A virtual cornea population was generated by randomly sampling material properties, central corneal thickness (CCT), and IOP for comparison with 181 clinical cases. The effect of material properties and CCT on IOP prediction in the virtual population was determined via computational simulation.
RESULTS
The results show that corneal biomechanical properties (as characterized in this study by the stiffness parameter Einit) are as important as the CCT in influencing measured (Goldmann) IOP.
CONCLUSIONS
This study supports the contention that the observed large scatter in standard correlations of clinical measurements of IOP versus CCT can be largely accounted for by plausible individual variations in corneal biomechanical stiffness properties. [J Refract Surg. 2010;26(7):512-519.]
AUTHORS
From ESI-USA R&D, Champaign (Kwon); and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Ghaboussi, Pecknold, Hashash), Illinois.
This research was partially funded with a grant from the Grainger Foundation, Urbana, Illinois (Ghaboussi).
The authors have no proprietary or financial interest in the materials presented herein.
Correspondence: Tae-Hyun Kwon, PhD, ESI-USA R&D, 1834 E Amber Ln, #204, Urbana, IL 61802. Tel: 217.419.0182; Fax: 217.344.2619; E-mail: taekwonkr@gmail.com
Received: December 22, 2008; Accepted: July 20, 2009
Posted online: August 17, 2009
doi:10.3928/1081597X-20090814-02
