title: IOP-induced lamina cribrosa displacement and scleral canal expansion: an analysis of factor interactions using parameterized eye-specific models.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the anterior-posterior lamina cribrosa deformation (LCD) and the scleral canal expansion (SCE) produced by an increase in IOP and identify the main factors and interactions that determine these responses in the monkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eye-specific baseline models of the LC and sclera of both eyes of three normal monkeys were constructed. Morphing techniques were used to generate 888 models with controlled variations in LC thickness, position and modulus (stiffness), scleral thickness and modulus, and scleral canal size and eccentricity. Finite element modeling was used to simulate an increase in IOP from 10 to 15 mm Hg. A two-level, full-factorial experimental design was used to select factor combinations and to determine the sensitivity of LCD and SCE to the eight factors, independently and in interaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LCD was between 53.6 μm (posteriorly) and -12.9 μm (anteriorly), whereas SCE was between 0.5 and 15.2 μm (all expansions). LCD was most sensitive to laminar modulus and position (24% and 21% of the variance in LCD, respectively), whereas SCE was most sensitive to scleral modulus and thickness (46% and 36% of the variance in SCE, respectively). There were also strong interactions between factors (35% and 7% of the variance in LCD and SCE, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IOP-related LCD and SCE result from a complex combination of factors, including geometry and material properties of the LC and sclera. This work lays the foundation for interpreting the range of individual sensitivities to IOP and illustrates that predicting individual ONH response to IOP will require the measurement of multiple factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: Ian A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Sigal
authors.forename: Hongli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Claude F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Burgoyne
authors.forename: J Crawford
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Downs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003198:Computer Simulation; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008251:Macaca; D008954:Models, Biological; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012590:Sclera / Q000503:physiopathology*