We propose four interrelated subprojects to define the biomechanics of the eye rotating (extraocular) muscles (EOMs) and other tissues in health and disease, understand novel EOM actions, and characterize effects of nerve damage to EOMs. This effort is to improve diagnosis and surgical treatment of strabismus, which is misalignment of the directions of the two eyes.
Aim I will clarify the role of connective tissue degeneration in common forms of strabismus that develop in adults, testing the hypothesis that some forms of acquired horizontal or vertical double vision are caused, not by brain or nerve disease as widely supposed now, but instead by connective tissue degeneration that alters EOM paths. Such degeneration would not signify neurological disease but may be corrected by surgery.
Aim II will characterize effects of nerve damage on EOMs in common clinical strabismus syndromes treated by EOM surgery, including palsy of the trochlear, oculomotor, and abducens nerves, to clarify the time course and extent of mechanical changes such as EOM thinning and stretching, and possibly regrowth of damaged nerves or substitution by other nerves. Parallel studies will validate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the eye sockets by comparison with microscopic changes to improve diagnostic specificity.
Aim III will test a new hypothesis that nerve control selective for individual parts of EOMs permits them to have important mechanical actions not currently considered in their physiological repertoire, and hence confounding to clinicians who treat strabismus. Microscopic studies of intramuscular nerve distributions will be complemented by functional studies using structural and motion encoded MRI during binocular gaze changes, convergence to near targets, and head tilting to determine the influence of selective EOM actions on binocular alignment.
Aim I V will characterize and model behavior of orbital fibromuscular tissues, using the modern mechanical engineering technique of finite element analysis (FEA) to integrate data on EOM and connective tissue properties obtained using novel techniques of minimal indentation, and dual-mode loading at lifelike speed and acceleration. Biomechanical testing will test the potential for selective compartmental action in EOMs. FEA based on accurate biomechanical data will be compared using 3-dimensional computer visualization with pre- and post-operative MRI to understand and improve surgical treatment of double vision caused by connective tissue degeneration.

Public Health Relevance

Strabismus is a common clinical disorder in which misalignment of the eyes can cause double vision in adults, and visual loss in children. Strabismus is often treated by surgical manipulation of mechanical properties of muscles and connective tissues in the eye socket. Improved understanding of mechanical properties and nerve control of eye socket tissues will improve the diagnosis of eye and brain diseases, and enhance the success of strabismus surgery.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY008313-23
Application #
8452106
Study Section
Central Visual Processing Study Section (CVP)
Program Officer
Araj, Houmam H
Project Start
1991-01-06
Project End
2016-04-30
Budget Start
2013-05-01
Budget End
2014-04-30
Support Year
23
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$553,450
Indirect Cost
$194,067
Name
University of California Los Angeles
Department
Ophthalmology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
092530369
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90095
Chaudhuri, Zia; Demer, Joseph L (2018) Long-term Surgical Outcomes in the Sagging Eye Syndrome. Strabismus 26:6-10
Demer, Joseph L (2018) Knobby Eye Syndrome. Strabismus 26:33-41
Clark, Robert A; Demer, Joseph L (2018) The Globe's Eccentric Rotational Axis: Why Medial Rectus Surgery Is More Potent than Lateral Rectus Surgery. Ophthalmology 125:1234-1238
Shin, Andrew; Park, Joseph; Demer, Joseph L (2018) Opto-mechanical characterization of sclera by polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography. J Biomech 72:173-179
Rajab, Ghada Z; Suh, Soh Youn; Demer, Joseph L (2017) Magnetic resonance imaging in dissociated strabismus complex demonstrates generalized hypertrophy of rectus extraocular muscles. J AAPOS 21:205-209
Chang, Melinda Y; Shin, Andrew; Park, Joseph et al. (2017) Deformation of Optic Nerve Head and Peripapillary Tissues by Horizontal Duction. Am J Ophthalmol 174:85-94
Chang, Melinda Y; Demer, Joseph L; Isenberg, Sherwin J et al. (2017) Decreased Binocular Summation in Strabismic Amblyopes and Effect of Strabismus Surgery. Strabismus 25:73-80
Demer, Joseph L; Clark, Robert A; Suh, Soh Youn et al. (2017) Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Optic Nerve Traction During Adduction in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma With Normal Intraocular Pressure. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 58:4114-4125
Chang, Melinda Y; Coleman, Anne L; Tseng, Victoria L et al. (2017) Surgical interventions for vertical strabismus in superior oblique palsy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 11:CD012447
Shin, Andrew; Yoo, Lawrence; Park, Joseph et al. (2017) Finite Element Biomechanics of Optic Nerve Sheath Traction in Adduction. J Biomech Eng 139:

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