title: Keratoconus prediction using a finite element model of the cornea with local biomechanical properties.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The ability to predict and understand which biomechanical properties of the cornea are responsible for the stability or progression of keratoconus may be an important clinical and surgical tool for the eye-care professional. We have developed a finite element model of the cornea, that tries to predict keratoconus-like behavior and its evolution based on material properties of the corneal tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Corneal material properties were modeled using bibliographic data and corneal topography was based on literature values from a schematic eye model. Commercial software was used to simulate mechanical and surface properties when the cornea was subject to different local parameters, such as elasticity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The simulation has shown that, depending on the corneal initial surface shape, changes in local material properties and also different intraocular pressures values induce a localized protuberance and increase in curvature when compared to the remaining portion of the cornea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This technique provides a quantitative and accurate approach to the problem of understanding the biomechanical nature of keratoconus. The implemented model has shown that changes in local material properties of the cornea and intraocular pressure are intrinsically related to keratoconus pathology and its shape/curvature.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Oftalmologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, SP, Brasil. lavcf@ifsc.usp.br
authors.forename: Luis Alberto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.forename: Rodivaldo H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costa Neto
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paranhos
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schor
authors.forename: Wallace
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chamon
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019781:Corneal Topography; D018450:Disease Progression; D004548:Elasticity; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008954:Models, Biological