High-resolution mapping of corneal stiffness and tension
In vivo high-resolution mapping of the elastic moduli and tensile stress in the human cornea
This project uses a new high-resolution optical imaging method to create detailed maps of how stiff and tense the cornea is for people with healthy eyes, glaucoma risk, keratoconus, or considering refractive surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11137575 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will develop and advanced optical coherence elastography (OCE) scan using pig eyes and donated human corneas to tune the hardware and processing algorithms. The method tracks tiny elastic waves that travel along the cornea to calculate tensile and shear modulus and map tissue tension at high spatial resolution. Once validated ex vivo, the team will scan living volunteers including healthy people across the lifespan, patients with ocular hypertension, people with keratoconus, and individuals undergoing refractive surgery. The goal is to produce far more detailed biomechanical maps of the cornea than current clinical devices.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include healthy volunteers of different ages, people with ocular hypertension, patients with keratoconus, and those planning or having refractive surgery who can travel to the study site.
Not a fit: People with eye problems unrelated to corneal biomechanics or those unable to undergo in-person ocular imaging are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help clinicians detect biomechanical changes earlier, improve keratoconus management, and make refractive surgery and glaucoma screening safer and more personalized.
How similar studies have performed: Commercial instruments have provided some biomechanical corneal data but with limited resolution, and optical coherence elastography is an emerging technique with promising preliminary results while this wideband, wave-guided approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yun, Seok-Hyun Andy — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Yun, Seok-Hyun Andy
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.