Multi-Scale Modeling of Human Cornea

The cornea’s biomechanical properties greatly influence shape and the visual performance of eye. Keratoconus, a degenerative disease, is caused by loss of biomechanical strength of the cornea. This study aims to understand and predict the cornea’s mechanical response using mathematical models. The study was performed in three hierarchical levels: collagen fibril, cornea tissue, and entire cornea. The stress-strain response of the collagen fibril was studied using three collagen models. The models for the collagen fibrils were then used to create material model for cornea tissue. A uniaxial tensile simulation was performed on collagen tissue model, and the results from the simulation were compared with the experimental data. Finally, a finite element model of the entire cornea was developed. Simulations were performed to capture the cornea response under varying intra-ocular pressure. The models created successfully captured the physiological response of the cornea.