Home > Archive>Volume 9, Issue 12, 2016 >1824-1831. DOI:10.18240/ijo.2016.12.21
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Biomechanics of the sclera and effects on intraocular pressure
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Xuan-Chu Duan. Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China. duanxchu@126.com

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Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.81370913).

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    Abstract:

    Accumulating evidence indicates that glaucoma is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGC), resulting in gradual and progressive permanent loss of vision. Reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) remains the only proven method for preventing and delaying the progression of glaucomatous visual impairment. However, the specific role of IOP in optic nerve injury remains controversial, and little is known about the biomechanical mechanism by which elevated IOP leads to the loss of RGC. Published studies suggest that the biomechanical properties of the sclera and scleral lamina cribrosa determine the biomechanical changes of optic nerve head, and play an important role in the pathologic process of loss of RGC and optic nerve damage. This review focuses on the current understanding of biomechanics of sclera in glaucoma and provides an overview of the possible interactions between the sclera and IOP. Treatments and interventions aimed at the sclera are also discussed.

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Xu Jia, Juan Yu, Sheng-Hui Liao,/et al.Biomechanics of the sclera and effects on intraocular pressure. Int J Ophthalmol, 2016,9(12):1824-1831

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Publication History
  • Received:June 01,2016
  • Revised:August 03,2016
  • Online: December 18,2016
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