Glaucoma-related Changes in the Mechanical Properties and Collagen Micro-architecture of the Human Sclera.

Objective: The biomechanical behavior of the sclera determines the level of mechanical insult from intraocular pressure to the axons and tissues of the optic nerve head, as is of interest in glaucoma. In this study, we measure the collagen fiber structure and the strain response, and estimate the material properties of glaucomatous and normal human donor scleras.

Methods: Twenty-two posterior scleras from normal and diagnosed glaucoma donors were obtained from an eyebank.