title: Biomechanics of the sclera and effects on intraocular pressure.
abstract: Accumulating evidence indicates that glaucoma is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGC), resulting in gradual and progressive permanent loss of vision. Reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) remains the only proven method for preventing and delaying the progression of glaucomatous visual impairment. However, the specific role of IOP in optic nerve injury remains controversial, and little is known about the biomechanical mechanism by which elevated IOP leads to the loss of RGC. Published studies suggest that the biomechanical properties of the sclera and scleral lamina cribrosa determine the biomechanical changes of optic nerve head, and play an important role in the pathologic process of loss of RGC and optic nerve damage. This review focuses on the current understanding of biomechanics of sclera in glaucoma and provides an overview of the possible interactions between the sclera and IOP. Treatments and interventions aimed at the sclera are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: School of Information Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China.
authors.forename: Xuan-Chu
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Duan
keywords: biomechanics; finite element models; glaucoma; intraocular pressure; sclera