Fig 1.
A guinea pig with the defocussing optic in place.
Fig 2.
External view of muscle reflection (A). The lateral rectus was cut off in the position of the imaginary line. External view of the spot distribution of the two irradiation zonesper quadrantin each guinea pig (B).
Fig 3.
The comparison of anterior chamber depth (A), lens thickness (B), vitreous chamber length (C) among the three groups. Top of the box plot represents the mean and the bar of each box represents the standard deviation. *Statistical significance (p < 0.05) between the groups.
Fig 4.
The comparison of axial length (A) between the three groups. Top of the box plot represents the mean and the bar of each box represents the standard deviation. The trend graph of axial length (B). Triangle, square and circle represent the means. *Statistical significance (p < 0.05) between the groups. B: the value of axial length (baseline); T-B: the value of axial length change (second week minus baseline); F-T: the value of axial length change (fourth week minus second week); S-F: the value of axial length change (sixth week minus fourth week).
Fig 5.
The comparison of refractive error (diopter) (A) between the three groups. Top of the box plot represents the mean and the bar of each box represents the standard deviation. The trend graph of refractive error (B). Triangle, square and circle represent the means. *Statistical significance (p < 0.05) between the groups. B: the value of refractive error (baseline) T-B: the value of diopter change (second week minus baseline); F-T: the value of diopter change (fourth week minus second week); S-F: the value of diopter change (sixth week minus fourth week).
Table 1.
Comparison of anterior chamber depth, lens thickness and vitreous chamber length among the three groups.
Fig 6.
Electron microscope photographs illustrating collagenous fiber in control group (A), crosslinking group (B), and Non-crosslinking group (C). Cross sections taken from sclera. The scale can be found in the figure. The scleral collagen fiber of NCL group were scattered and irregularly distributed in C. The scleral collagen fibers of the CL group were more regularly distributed in B compared with C. The scleral collagen fibers of the control group were denser and regularly distributed in A compared with B.
Fig 7.
Comparison of the circumference of collagenous fibers among the three groups.
Each data point represents one subject. Middle of the chart represents the mean.
Fig 8.
Electron microscope photographs illustrating collagenous fiber arrangements in the control group (A), CL group (B), and NCL group (C). Longitudinal sections taken from the sclera. The scale can be found in the figure. The scleral collagen fibers of the NCL group were loose and irregularly distributed in C. The scleral collagen fibers of the CL group were more dense and regularly distributed in B compared with C. The scleral collagen fibers of the control group were more dense and regularly distributed in A compared with B.
Table 2.
Histological Evaluation of Scleras By Electron Microscopy.
Fig 9.
Light microscopy photographs illustrating scleras in the control group (A), CL group (B), and NCL group (C). (Haematoxylin and Eosin). Sections taken from the nasal side of the globe. The scale is presented in the figure. Collagenous tissue of the scleras in A were similar in appearance to B. Collagenous tissue of scleras in C were more loose and thinner in comparison to B.
Fig 10.
Stress-strain curve of the tensile test.
Three curves were chosen randomly from each of the three groups in this study. Ultimate stress of the sclera was lowest in the NCL group followed by the CL group and the control group; Ultimate strain (%) of the sclera was lowest in the CL group followed by the NCL group and the control group.
Table 3.
The Results of Biomechanical Measurements Among The Three Groups.