Brillouin Microscopy Used to Evaluate Corneal Mechanical Properties

Launched by VIENNA INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN OCULAR SURGERY · Apr 2, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how the cornea, the clear front part of the eye, behaves in terms of its stiffness or elasticity, especially in patients with certain eye conditions and after specific eye surgeries. The researchers will use a new imaging technique called Brillouin microscopy, which is a non-invasive method that measures how the cornea responds to light and sound waves. This study aims to understand how diseases like Fuchs' Endothelial Dystrophy and Map Dot Fingerprint Dystrophy, as well as surgeries such as corneal transplants, affect the mechanical properties of the cornea. They will compare patients with these conditions to healthy individuals to see how their corneas differ.

To participate in the study, individuals must be at least 18 years old and either have had certain corneal surgeries or be diagnosed with specific corneal dystrophies. Healthier individuals with no history of eye disease are also welcome as control participants. Participants can expect to undergo several eye tests, including standard exams and the new imaging technique, to help gather data on corneal health. The results of this study could lead to better ways to diagnose and treat corneal disorders in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Written informed consent prior to surgery
• • Patients aged 18 years and older
• * Patients who have undergone one of the following corneal surgeries or are diagnosed with one of the following dystrophies:
• • Penetrating Keratoplasty (PKP) and no longer have sutures following PKP o Descemet's Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK)
• • Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK)
• • Fuchs' Endothelial Dystrophy (FED)
• • Map Dot Fingerprint Dystrophy (MDFD)
• • Healthy Controls: healthy eyes without any history of corneal diseases or surgeries
• Exclusion Criteria:
• Any of the following will exclude a subject from the study:
• • Patients with inadequate corneal imaging or corneal scarring that would impact results
• • Patients with other corneal dystrophies or corneal diseases
• • Patients with active ocular infections or inflammatory conditions
• • Patients unable to undergo Brillouin imaging adequately
• • Patients that suffered an eye trauma according to their medical history
• • Patients with fixational problems (e.g., head tremor) or with any medical condition that could interfere with the measurements
• • Pregnancy (pregnancy test will be performed in women of reproductive age)