Spatially-resolved Brillouin spectroscopy for in vivo determination of the biomechanical properties of crystalline lenses

Confocal Brillouin spectroscopy is an innovative measurement method for the noninvasive determination of rheological tissue properties. Its application in ophthalmology can offer the possibility to determine in vivo the deformation properties of eye lens with spatial resolution. This seems to be a promising approach concerning current presbyopia research. Due to the spatially resolved detection of the viscoelastic lens properties, a better understanding of the natural aging process of the lens and the influences of different lens opacities on the stiffness is expected. Based on spectral data the refractive index profile, the protein concentration and the density profile within the lens tissue can be derived. A measurement set-up for confocal Brillouin microscopy based on spectral analysis of spontaneous Brillouin scattering signals by using a high-resolution dispersive device is presented. First in vivo measurements results on rabbit eyes are presented and evaluated concerning refractive index distribution, protein concentration, density and rheological significance. These data are compared with known research results of ex vivo lenses.