Measure the spatial distribution of corneal elasticity by combining femtosecond laser induced breakdown spectroscopy and acoustic radiation force elasticity microscope

The unique spatial distribution of corneal elasticity is shown by the nonhomogeneous structure of the cornea. It is critical to understanding how biomechanics control corneal stability and refraction and one way to do this job is non-invasive measurement of this distribution. Femtosecond laser pulses have the ability to induce optical breakdown and produced cavitation in the anterior and posterior cornea. A confocal ultrasonic transducer applied 6.5 ms acoustic radiation forcechirp bursts to the bubble at 1.5 MHz while monitoring bubble position using pulse-echoes at 20 MHz. The laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) were measured in the anterior and posterior cornea with the plasmas that induced by the same femtosecond laser to see whether the laser induced plasmas signals will show relationship to Young’s modulus.