title: Collagen structure and mechanical properties of the human sclera: analysis for the effects of age.
abstract: The objective of this study was to measure the collagen fiber structure and estimate the material properties of 7 human donor scleras, from age 53 to 91. The specimens were subjected to inflation testing, and the full-field displacement maps were measured by digital image correlation. After testing, the collagen fiber structure was mapped using wide-angle X-ray scattering. A specimen-specific inverse finite element method was applied to calculate the material properties of the collagen fibers and interfiber matrix by minimizing the difference between the experimental displacements and model predictions. Age effects on the fiber structure and material properties were estimated using multivariate models accounting for spatial autocorrelation. Older age was associated with a larger matrix stiffness (p = 0.001), a lower degree of fiber alignment in the peripapillary sclera (p = 0.01), and a lower mechanical anisotropy in the peripapillary sclera (p = 0.03).
authors.forename: Baptiste
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Coudrillier
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pijanka
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jefferys
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sorensen
authors.forename: Harry A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Quigley
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boote
authors.forename: Thao D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Nguyen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000465:Algorithms; D016880:Anisotropy; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008875:Middle Aged; D012590:Sclera / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen