# Corneal Biomechanics in Ocular Disease

> **NIH NIH R01** · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $432,975

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The purpose of the proposed renewal is to add a longitudinal component for the purpose of
generating risk models to predict progression in ocular diseases that include biomechanical
metrics established at baseline. A novel metric of Corneal Contribution to Stress was
developed at baseline that represents long-term adaptation to asymmetric biomechanical
properties in keratoconus which we propose will predict progression over the follow-up period.
An additional metric of cornea compressibility will be included in the progression model. In
Diabetes without retinopathy, we propose that scleral stiffness will predict development of
diabetic retinopathy during the follow-up period, and that increased scleral stiffness is a
cumulative indicator of long-term hyperglycemia which we attribute to the formation of non-
enzymatic cross-links in the sclera. Hemoglobin A1c will be included in the model as a discrete
indicator of hyperglycemia. Finally, we propose to add elastic and viscoelastic biomechanical
metrics to the risk model from the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study to predict the
conversion from ocular hypertension to glaucoma. Elastic parameters include corneal stiffness
and scleral stiffness, and the viscoelastic parameter is corneal hysteresis. Once completed,
these risk models can be translated to the clinic as new tools to aid in the management of
multiple ocular conditions.
.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10874432
- **Project number:** 5R01EY027399-07
- **Recipient organization:** OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** CYNTHIA J ROBERTS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $432,975
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-03-01 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10874432

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10874432, Corneal Biomechanics in Ocular Disease (5R01EY027399-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10874432. Licensed CC0.

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