Quantitative Evaluation of Human Lens and Lens Capsule Elasticity by Optical Coherence Elastography Based on a Rayleigh Wave Model

ABSTRACT Evaluating the biomechanical properties of the lens and lens capsule is important for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of age‐related cataracts and presbyopia. In this study, we developed an optical coherent elastography technique to assess the elasticity of the lens and lens capsule in the human eye. With age, the mean Young's modulus of the lens increased from 12.28 ± 0.87 kPa to 18.59 ± 1.45 kPa, and the lens capsule increased from 6.33 ± 0.36 kPa to 13.33 ± 0.74 kPa. The results showed that the Young's modulus of the lens capsule and lens increased with age, with the Young's modulus of the lens significantly higher than that of the lens capsule. This study reports the assessment of the elasticity of the human lens and lens capsule by the OCE technique, indicating that it may provide a potential clinical tool for advancing research on diseases affecting the lens. From the image, it is found that the Young's modulus of the lens is higher than that of the lens capsule. These results suggest that our method can effectively measure the elasticity of the lens capsule and lens as a valuable biomarker.