Real-time 3D imaging of cornea stiffness
Optical Coherence Elastography of the Cornea
This project is building a fast, no‑touch 3D scan to map cornea stiffness for people with keratoconus, high myopia, or after corneal surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145915 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project aims to create a fast, no‑touch 3D imaging scan that maps how soft or stiff your cornea is in real time. It uses optical coherence elastography combined with ultra‑fast optical coherence tomography to send and detect tiny mechanical waves through the cornea. New signal‑processing methods will correct for timing and spatial coherence loss so the system can produce high‑resolution 3D maps across the whole cornea in milliseconds. Clinicians could use these maps to spot early keratoconus, evaluate risk for post‑surgical ectasia, and improve interpretation of eye‑pressure tests.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would include people with suspected or diagnosed keratoconus, patients with high axial myopia, and those being considered for or monitored after corneal refractive surgery.
Not a fit: People without corneal disease or those with conditions limited to the retina or optic nerve are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this cornea‑focused imaging technology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable earlier and more accurate detection of corneal diseases and better planning or prevention of complications after refractive surgery.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has shown feasibility of measuring corneal elasticity in vivo, but full 3D, ultrafast, no‑contact mechanical imaging across the entire cornea is a novel advance.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Houston — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Larin, Kirill V — University of Houston
- Study coordinator: Larin, Kirill V
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.