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Finite element analysis of trans-lamina cribrosa pressure difference on optic nerve head biomechanics: the Beijing Intracranial and Intraocular Pressure Study

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Abstract

The present study aims to assess the potential difference of biomechanical response of the optic nerve head to the same level of trans-lamina cribrosa pressure difference (TLCPD) induced by a reduced cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP) or an elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). A finite element model of optic nerve head tissue (pre- and post-laminar neural tissue, lamina cribrosa, sclera, and pia mater) was constructed. Computed stresses, deformations, and strains were compared at each TLCPD step caused by reduced CSFP or elevated IOP. The results showed that elevating TLCPD increased the strain in optic nerve head, with the largest strains occurring in the neural tissue around the sclera ring. Relative to a baseline TLCPD of 10 mmHg, at a same TLCPD of 18 mmHg, the pre-laminar neural tissue experienced 11.10% first principal strain by reduced CSFP and 13.66% by elevated IOP, respectively. The corresponding values for lamina cribrosa were 6.09% and 6.91%. In conclusion, TLCPD has a significant biomechanical impact on optic nerve head tissue and, more prominently, within the pre-laminar neural tissue and lamina cribrosa. Comparatively, reducing CSFP showed smaller strain than elevating IOP even at a same level of TLCPD on ONH tissue, indicating a different potential role of low CSFP in the pathogenesis of glaucoma.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81271005, 81300767), the Beijing Natural Science Foundation (7122038, 7162037), and the Basic-Clinical Research Cooperation Funding of Capital Medical University (2016-JLPT-Y03). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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  1. Contributed equally to this work

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100005, China

    Yingyan Mao, Jing Li, Yiquan Yang, Lei Tian & Ningli Wang

  2. Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100054, China

    Yingyan Mao, Diya Yang, Jing Li, Zheng Zhang, Yiquan Yang, Lei Tian & Ningli Wang

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, 43210, USA

    Jun Liu

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100005, China

    Ruowu Hou

  5. Hamilton Glaucoma Center and Department of Ophthalmology, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, 92093, USA

    Robert N. Weinreb

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  1. Yingyan Mao
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Correspondence to Ningli Wang.

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Mao, Y., Yang, D., Li, J. et al. Finite element analysis of trans-lamina cribrosa pressure difference on optic nerve head biomechanics: the Beijing Intracranial and Intraocular Pressure Study. Sci. China Life Sci. 63, 1887–1894 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11427-018-1585-8

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