Finite element modelling of cornea mechanics: a review

The cornea is a transparent tissue in front of the eye that refracts light and facilitates vision. A slight change in the geometry of the cornea remarkably affects the optical power. Because of this sensitivity, biomechanical study of the cornea can reveal much about its performance and function. In vivo and in vitro studies have been conducted to investigate the mechanics of the cornea and determine its characteristics. Numerical techniques such as the finite element method (FEM) have been extensively implemented as effective and noninvasive methods for analyzing corneal mechanics and possible disorders. This article reviews the use of FEM for assessing the mechanical behavior of the cornea. Different applications of FEM in corneal disease studies, surgical predictions, impact simulations, and clinical applications have been reviewed. Some suggestions for the future of this type of modeling in the area of corneal mechanics are also discussed.

角膜是眼球前方的透明组织，能够折射光线并辅助视觉成像。角膜几何形态的微小变化会显著影响其屈光力。正因角膜具备此种敏感性，对其开展生物力学研究可深入揭示其性能与功能机制。目前已有大量体内（in vivo）与体外（in vitro）研究，用于探究角膜力学特性并明确其相关特征。诸如有限元法（finite element method，FEM）这类数值技术，已被广泛用作分析角膜力学特性及潜在病变的有效无创手段。本文综述了有限元法在评估角膜力学行为方面的应用，梳理了其在角膜疾病研究、手术效果预测、冲击模拟以及临床应用等不同场景中的多样应用，并就角膜力学领域此类建模研究的未来发展方向提出了若干建议。