Longitudinal assessment of the effect of alkali burns on corneal biomechanical properties using optical coherence elastography

Eye injury due to alkali burn is a severe ocular trauma that can profoundly affect corneal structure and function, including its biomechanical properties. Here, we assess the changes in the mechanical behavior of mouse corneas in response to alkali-induced injury by conducting longitudinal measurements using optical coherence elastography (OCE). A non-contact air-coupled ultrasound transducer was used to induce elastic waves in control and alkali-injured mouse corneas in vivo, which were imaged with phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography. Corneal mechanical properties were estimated using a modified Rayleigh-Lamb wave model, and results show that Young's modulus of alkali-burned corneas were significantly greater than that of their healthy counterparts on days 7 (p = 0.029) and 14 (p = 0.026) after injury. These findings, together with the changes in the shear viscosity coefficient postburn, indicate that the mechanical properties of the alkali-burned cornea are significantly modulated during the wound healing process.