# Cornea biomechanical analysis with Brillouin microscopy

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK · 2020 · $395,591

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY:
Keratoconus and related corneal ectasias are a major cause of vision loss in young adults, the primary concern
during refractive surgery screening to treat myopia, and the leading indication for corneal transplantation in the
US. These conditions are known to be triggered by the disruption of the mechanical balance between corneal
strength and intraocular outward pressure, which can occur naturally in ectatic disorders or can be triggered by
refractive surgery procedures. While it is critical to identify weakened (ectatic) corneas at their earliest time
point, current imaging techniques are unable to do that, as they only assess corneal morphology (shape) and
not corneal biomechanics. This leaves doctors and patients with limited information when diagnosing
keratoconus, or when planning surgeries. To overcome current corneal screening limitations, we have
developed an optical technology, Brillouin microscopy, which can measure corneal stiffness at high 3-
dimensional resolution without contacting or perturbing the eye. The overall goal of this research program is to
improve diagnosis and management of corneal ectatic disorders and to improve the safety and outcome of
refractive surgery procedures by introducing novel biomechanical profiling of the cornea. Our central
hypothesis is that spatially localized changes in mechanical properties of the cornea are critical drivers of the
morphological behavior observed in the clinic. This hypothesis is driven by strong preliminary data showing
remarkable region dependent changes in ectatic corneas in vivo. The proposed research will pursue
three specific aims: 1) Validate Brillouin measurements for mechanical evaluation of the cornea; 2)
Characterize focal Brillouin modulus changes in subclinical keratoconus; 3) Determine the mechanical impact
of refractive surgery and cross-linking procedures on the cornea. The research is significant because
elasticity-based metrics will enable early identification of corneal ectasia patients when treatments are
maximally beneficial, proper screening of individuals at risk of developing post-operative ectasia that might
otherwise undergo LASIK, and objective assessment of the mechanical degradation involved with refractive
procedures. Ultimately, the knowledge gained from this research is likely to lead to the development of
individualized refractive surgery and cross-linking treatment plans based on the patient's underlying
biomechanical status.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9853797
- **Project number:** 5R01EY028666-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
- **Principal Investigator:** James Bradley Randleman
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $395,591
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-02-01 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9853797

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9853797, Cornea biomechanical analysis with Brillouin microscopy (5R01EY028666-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9853797. Licensed CC0.

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