Elasticity of tissues involved in accommodation

Vision Res. 1991;31(7-8):1417-38. doi: 10.1016/0042-6989(91)90061-9.

Abstract

Uniaxial loading of human lens, zonules, ciliary muscle, and choroid shows a nonlinear relationship between stress and deformation of the specimen, and hysteresis on unloading. Spring constants, at 10% elongation, have been calculated for all specimens and for several combinations. Except for zonules they are significantly correlated with age. They will provide a basis for a model of accommodation. The mean force required for 10% elongation of the lens, at mean age 43, is about 22 x greater than for the zonules; and the mean elongation of the zonules is nearly 7 x that of the lens at a load of 0.01 N (approximately 1 g). Ranges of forces and pressures in the accommodated and nonaccommodated eye are estimated.

MeSH terms

  • Accommodation, Ocular / physiology*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Choroid / physiology
  • Ciliary Body / physiology
  • Elasticity
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Lens, Crystalline / physiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Biological
  • Tensile Strength