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Cited by 59Corneal surgery and disordersElasticity and Material ModelingGlaucoma and retinal disorders

Spatial Patterns and Age-Related Changes of the Collagen Crimp in the Human Cornea and Sclera

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Gogola, Alexandra, Jan, Ning-Jiun, Brazile, Bryn, Lam, Po, Lathrop, Kira L., Chan, Kevin C., Sigal, Ian A.·2018·Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science
DOI 10.1167/iovs.17-23474PMC PMC5995484
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Abstract

Purpose: Collagen is the main load-bearing component of the eye, and collagen crimp is a critical determinant of tissue mechanical behavior. We test the hypothesis that collagen crimp morphology varies over the human cornea and sclera and with age. Methods: We analyzed 42 axial whole-globe sections from 20 normal eyes of 20 human donors, ranging in age from 0.08 (1 month) to 97 years. The sections were imaged using polarized light microscopy to obtain μm-scale fiber bundle/lamellae orientation from two corneal and six scleral regions. Crimp morphology was quantified through waviness, tortuosity, and amplitude. Results: Whole-globe median waviness, tortuosity, and amplitude were 0.127 radians, 1.002, and 0.273 μm, respectively. These parameters, however, were not uniform over the globe, instead exhibiting distinct, consistent patterns. All crimp parameters decreased significantly with age, with significantly different age-related decreases between regions. The crimp morphology of the limbus changed the most drastically with age, such that it had the largest crimp in neonates, and among the smallest in the elderly. Conclusions: Age-related decreases in crimp parameters are likely one of the mechanisms underlying age-related stiffening of the sclera and cornea, potentially influencing sensitivity to IOP. Further work is needed to determine the biomechanical implications of the crimp patterns observed. The comparatively large changes in the crimp morphology of the limbus, especially in the early years of life, suggest that crimp in this region may play a role in eye development, although the exact nature of this is unclear.

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  • Crimp could provide a mechanism to allow a lamella to elongate without injury.

    “and this could provide a mechanism to allow a lamella to elongate without injury [28].”

    From Structural control of corneal transparency, refractive power and dynamics (2025) · cites this paper as [28]

    The Discussion says that reduced collagen crimp may contribute to lengthening of the eye, though the calculated effect is small. The Methods describe crimp in collagen bundles and lamellae, but the paper does not say that crimp allows a lamella to elongate without injury. (LLM, conf=0.78)

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Cited by

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Authors
Gogola, A., Jan, N.-J., Brazile, B., Lam, P., Lathrop, K. L., Chan, K. C., & Sigal, I. A.
Affiliations
University of Pittsburgh (US)
Corresponding author
Sigal, Ian A.
ORCID
Venue
Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science
Publisher
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)
Published
2018-06-11
Volume
59
Issue
7
Pages
2987
ISSN
  • 0146-0404 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-5783
DOI
10.1167/iovs.17-23474
PMC
PMC5995484
OpenAlex
W2808208642
Cited by
59
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 1
FWCI
4.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Research to Prevent Blindness (P30-EY008098, T32-EY017271, R01-EY023966)
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • National Institutes of Health (EY008098)
  • Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh
  • National Eye Institute (R01EY023966, R01EY025011, T32EY017271, P30EY008098)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Corneal surgery and disorders
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Elasticity and Material Modeling
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Ophthalmology › Glaucoma and retinal disorders
Keywords
cornea, sclera, age-related changes, collagen fiber orientation, limbus, scleral stiffness, corneal biomechanics, polarized light microscopy, eye development
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Child, Child, Preschool, Collagen, Cornea, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Microscopy, Polarization, Middle Aged, Sclera, Tissue Donors, Healthy Volunteers

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