Evaluation of Lamina Cribrosa and Peripapillary Sclera Stiffness in Pseudoexfoliation and Normal Eyes by Atomic Force Microscopy

Abstract

AFM was proven suitable for determining the stiffness of ONH tissues, encouraging further large-scale analyses. The marked decrease in stiffness, implying an increased deformability of the ONH in PEX eyes, may reflect an inherent tissue weakness rendering these eyes more vulnerable to glaucomatous damage.