The Influence of Material Properties and Geometry on Optic Nerve Head Biomechanics

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. The biological mechanisms of this disease are not well understood, and the factors contributing to its progression are not well characterized. It is generally accepted that the retinal ganglion cell axons are damaged in glaucoma as they pass through the optic nerve head (ONH). The ONH contains the lamina cribrosa (LC), a fenestrated connective tissue network that spans the scleral canal, through which the axons pass as they leave the eye. It has been postulated that intraocular pressure (IOP)-related stress and strain plays a central role in the pathophysiology of glaucoma [1], so the study of LC biomechanics is important in developing an understanding of the disease.