Does the choroid become more elastic with increasing presbyopia?
1Uthoff D., 2Fell A., 2Kusel R., 2Richard G. 1Augenklinik Kiel-Bellevue, Kiel, 2Klinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf Purpose: In rhesus monkey eyes loss of elasticity of anterior choroid, where zonule fibers are inserting, has been discussed as a factor causative for presbyopia of these animals. Therefore we investigated in segments of anterior human choroid, whether elasticity changes age dependant. Methods: In 30 enucleated eyes (age range 45-79 years) with postmortem- times less than 24 hours choroid and sclera were separated carefully after the corneae had been dissected. After a unilateral and radial cut the retina-vitreous-complex was detached from the choroid and 5 mm wide segments were stamped out of the choroid. In order to measure the stiffness, these specimen were fixed immediately at the insertions of the ciliary muscle, and 5 mm behind. By means of a computer controlled setup, the quadratic probe was expanded and the resulting tr
