Noncontact measurement of intraocular pressure using a modified Michelson interferometer

摘要

This paper describes a new method to examine the intraocular pressure (IOP) without any contact with the eye. In our new approach the IOP is determined indirectly from the acoustic properties of the eye, as the resonance frequencies of the bulbus are shifting with increasing IOP. In a first step simulations were made with the Finite Element Method to explore the correlation between the IOP and the acoustic properties of the bulbus. The results showed a significant rise of the resonance-frequencies with increasing IOP. Simultaneously a in-vitro measurement system was built comprising a modified michelson interferometer to measure the vibrations, a transducer to stimulate the eye and a controlling PC. With this system measurements were made with artificial eyes and enucleated pig eyes to prove the correlation experimentally. The eyes were stimulated both contacting the eye with a transducer by a stick and contactless with sonic waves. Several series of measurements showed a proportional constant of 1,25 Hz/mmHg in average, which can be detected easily. The standard deviation measuring different pig eyes was 4,5 mmHg. Next a in-vivo system was developed to study the acoustic behavior of the human eye in the real environment. The in-vivo system consists of a miniaturized semiconductor-laser interferometer complying laser safety requirements, an automatic positioning unit and an excitation unit to stimulate vibrations of the eye. Sub-micrometer vibrations of the eye can be measured in-vivo with this system.