Analytic and Computational Comparison of Poroelastic and Elastic Biomechanical Models for Soft Ocular Tissues Available to Purchase

Current investigations into the cause of glaucoma reveal the importance and influence of biomechanical properties and response in ocular tissue [1–4]. Finite element models (FEMs) supported by experimental data are essential in quantifying stress, strain and displacement values at vulnerable locations in the eye; (e.g., the optic nerve head (ONH, lamina cribrosa (LC), etc); associated with normal and elevated intraocular pressures (IOP). In order to create such FEMs, our analysis shows the importance of extending elastic to poroelastic (PE) material models in FEMs used to describe ocular structures. The current study investigates the quantitative differences between elastic and PE representations of material behavior and compares the accuracy of analytical results with computational results from a PE FEM. Such differences may be important when investigating the pathophysiology and diagnosis of ocular diseases.