Bulk changes in posterior scleral collagen microstructure in human high myopia


Markov, Petar P, Eliasy, Ashkan ORCID: 0000-0002-4473-1900, Pijanka, Jacek K, Htoon, Hla M, Paterson, Neil G, Sorensen, Thomas, Elsheikh, Ahmed ORCID: 0000-0001-7456-1749, Girard, Michael JA and Boote, Craig (2018) Bulk changes in posterior scleral collagen microstructure in human high myopia. MOLECULAR VISION, 24. pp. 818-833.

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Abstract

<h4>Purpose</h4>We aimed to characterize any bulk changes in posterior scleral collagen fibril bundle architecture in human eyes with high myopia.<h4>Methods</h4>Wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) was employed to map collagen orientation at 0.5 mm × 0.5 mm spatial intervals across the posterior sclera of seven non-myopic human eyes and three eyes with high myopia (>6D of refractive error). At each sampled point, WAXS provided thickness-averaged measures of the angular distribution of preferentially aligned collagen fibrils within the tissue plane and the anisotropic proportion (the ratio of preferentially aligned to total collagen scatter).<h4>Results</h4>Non-myopic specimens featured well-conserved microstructural features, including strong uniaxial collagen alignment along the extraocular muscle insertion sites of the mid-posterior sclera and a highly anisotropic annulus of collagen circumscribing the nerve head in the peripapillary sclera. All three myopic specimens exhibited notable alterations in the peripapillary sclera, including a partial loss of circumferential collagen alignment and a redistribution of the normally observed regional pattern of collagen anisotropic proportion. Linear mixed-model analysis indicated that the mean fiber angle deviation from the circumferential orientation in the peripapillary sclera of highly myopic eyes (23.9° ± 18.2) was statistically significantly higher than that of controls (17.9° ± 12.0; p<0.05).<h4>Conclusions</h4>Bulk alterations in the normal posterior scleral collagen microstructure occur in human eyes with high myopia. These changes could reflect remodeling of the posterior sclera during axial lengthening and/or a mechanical adaption to tissue stresses induced by fluid pressure or eye movements that may be exacerbated in enlarged eyes.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Sclera, Humans, Myopia, Collagen, Autopsy, Case-Control Studies, Anisotropy, X-Rays, Scattering, Radiation
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 03 Dec 2018 08:48
Last Modified: 07 Feb 2024 19:18
Open Access URL: http://www.molvis.org/molvis/v24/818/
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URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3029364
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