Development of an in vivo magnetic resonance imaging and computer modelling platform to investigate the physiological optics of the crystalline lens

We have developed and validated in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols to extract parameters (T2 and geometry) of the human lens that, combined with biometric measures of the eye and optical modelling, enable us to investigate the relative contributions made by the gradient of refractive index (GRIN) and the shape of the lens to the refractive properties of each subject tested. Seven young and healthy participants (mean age: 25.6 ± 3.6 years) underwent an ophthalmic examination, and two sessions of MRI scans using a 3 T clinical magnet. Our MRI protocols for studying lens physiological optics and geometrical measurements were repeatable and reliable, using both 1D (95% confidence interval (CI) for mean differences for exponents = [-2.1, 2.6]) and 2D analysis (anterior T2 CI for differences [-6.4, 8.1] ms; posterior T2 CI for differences [-6.4, 8.3] ms). The lens thickness measured from MRI showed good correlation with that measured with clinical ‘gold standard’ LenStar (mean differences = [-0.18, 0.2] mm). The predicted refractive errors from ZEMAX had reasonable agreements with participants’ clinic records (mean differences = [-1.7, 1.2] D). Quantitative measurements of lens geometry and GRIN with our MRI technique showed high inter-day repeatability. Our clinical MRI technique also provides reliable measures of lens geometry that are comparable to optical biometry. Finally, our ZEMAX optical models produced accurate refractive error and lens power estimations.