Nondestructive assessment of corneal biomechanics in a porcine model of keratoconus using optical coherence elastography

Keratoconus is characterized by biomechanical weakening in the cornea, resulting in thinning and reshaping of the corneal tissue. Tissue models for studying these diseases have only been characterized morphologically, not mechanically. In this study, we used an enzyme-mediated approach to degrade collagen fibers in the cornea and induce a region of localized weakening mimicking keratoconus. The biomechanical changes in the cornea post-treatment with a collagenase enzyme were quantified using wave-based optical coherence elastography. Fiber organization was assessed using second-harmonic generation microscopy, and the results validate the biomechanical findings.