Biomechanical Effects of Collagen Cross-Linking on Excised Human Upper Eyelid Skin Samples
Author: Ali Mert Kocer
Base Hospital / Institution: Ophthalmology Department, Ulucanlar Eye Training and Research Hospital
ePoster presentation
Abstract ID: 24-137
Purpose
To evaluate the biomechanical effects of collagen cross-linking (CCL) on excised skin samples of patients undergoing upper eyelid blepharoplasty due to dermatochalasis.
Methods
This prospective study examined 20 excised upper eyelid skin samples from 10 patients with dermatochalasis. Following an upper eyelid blepharoplasty, accelerated CCL was performed using three minutes of UVA irradiance at 30 mW/cm2 with 0.1% hypotonic riboflavin. Treated (right eyelid, CCL group) and untreated eyelid (left eyelid, non-CCL group) samples of each patient were tested by a Deben 5 kN micro tensile tester (Deben UK Ltd., London, England). The stress-strain graphic was evaluated for the following parameters: the ultimate tensile strength (UTS), toughness, and Young’s modulus. Young’s modulus was obtained from the toe and linear regions.
Results
Ten patients (8 female, 2 male) with a mean age of 64.7±7.6 years were examined in this study. There was no difference in the UTS and toughness between the study groups (p = 0.239 and p = 0.384; respectively). The CCL group showed higher Young’s modulus values compared to the non-CCL group. Median Young’s modulus results in the toe and linear regions were 3.5 MPa (2.4-4.8) and 9.1 MPa (5.0-11.9) for the CCL group; and 2.9 MPa (1.7-4.4) and 8.7 MPa (2.1-12.4) for the non-CCL group (p = 0.048 and p = 0.645; respectively). Although there was no statistically significant difference in Young’s modulus between the CCL and non-CCL samples of individuals aged ≤ 65 years (p = 0.461); the CCL group of patients aged > 65 years had significantly higher Young’s modulus in the toe region compared to the non-CCL group (p = 0.026).
Conclusion
This study demonstrated a significant increase in Young’s modulus, suggesting enhanced tissue stiffness, in excised skin samples following CCL treatment. It is hypothesized that CCL could represent a promising and effective modality for investigating the treatment of dermatochalasis in elderly patients with diminished collagen fiber counts, particularly those with non-severe cases or who have undergone insufficient surgical correction.
Additional Authors
| First name | Last name | Base Hospital / Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Cem | Ornek | Ophthalmology Department, Ulucanlar Eye Training and Research Hospital |
| Emine | Sen | Ophthalmology Department, Ulucanlar Eye Training and Research Hospital |
