Peculiarities of Biomechanical Properties of Ocular Tissue in Keratoconus

Considerable achievements having been recently made in modern diagnostics and treatment of keratoconus have not diminished the urgency of the given problem as the traditional views of the pathogenesis of keratoconus do not always allow to struggle effectively with this difficult and continuously progressing disease. The objective of the research was to study the peculiarities of biomechanical properties of the cornea in keratoconus. Materials and methods. The article presents the analysis of studying biomechanical properties of the cornea in keratoconus. 44 patients (88 eyes) with keratoconus and emmetropic refraction were examined. To calculate biomechanical indicators of the cornea there was carried out the comparative analysis between the measurements obtained with the use of several methods in the same patients, namely the Oculus Pentacam-Scheimpflug imaging device by a standard technique and the indicators calculated using the method proposed by us and the device for in vivo estimation of corneal rigidity. Results. Considerable advantages of using the developed method and the device for estimation of corneal rigidity in vivo in comparison with keratotopography on the Oculus Pentacam-Scheimpflug camera were registered which allowed us not only to reveal the presence of biomechanical disorders of the cornea, but also to differentiate their character. To describe the degree of changes in biomechanical properties of the cornea in vivo the coefficient of corneal rigidity was developed. Conclusions. Loading tests allow receiving more exact information on biomechanical properties of the cornea in comparison with standard researches on the Oculus Pentacam-Scheimpflug camera.