CHARACTERIZING THE MECHANICAL RESPONSE OF CORNEA USING BIAXIAL TESTS

The cornea is a transparent tissue that covers the front of the eye and has unique mechanical properties. The cornea and sclera protect internal parts of the eye globe, i.e., iris, pupil, and lens. The cornea is a tissue that is exposed to the outside environment; thus, it could undergo significant amount of external pressure that is, for example, caused by eye rubbing and sudden injuries. The cornea is composed of five layers, i.e. epithelium, Bowman's layer, stroma, Descemet's membrane, and endothelium. The stroma is its thickest layer and comprises about 90 percent of the corneal thickness. The corneal stroma is mainly composed of water, collagen fibers, and proteoglycans that are found in the form of many superimposed lamellae. The uniform diameter and regular arrangement of collagen fibers in the corneal stroma are essential for its transparency and unique optical properties. In addition, the stromal layer is responsible for the structural properties of the cornea