High resolution three-dimensional reconstruction of the collagenous matrix of the human optic nerve head

Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness worldwide, leading to irreversible loss of vision. Prior studies indicate that ocular pressure-induced displacement of the lamina cribrosa (LC) may be responsible for retinal ganglion cell axon damage inside the neural canal. We present a novel approach to imaging the entire lamina cribrosa and the scleral canal at high lateral and axial resolution by using a combination of array tomography and nonlinear optical imaging of serial ultrathin orthogonal sections to detect second harmonic generated (SHG) signals from collagen. The resulting images can be analyzed individually or combined to form a three-dimensional reconstruction of the lamina. Due to the specificity of SHG generated from collagen the density and distribution of collagen inside the scleral canal can be objectively quantified with a high degree of accuracy. The reconstruction shows a non-uniform distribution of collagen along both the longitudinal and orthogonal axes. Mapping the collagen density by geographic region reveals significant differences in collagen content that result in “thin spots” with low collagen density as well as areas of very high collagen content. This suggests a non-uniform mechanical stiffness across the lamina that may account for increased axon damage observed in glaucoma patients. The inferior temporal region of the ONH in particular is marked by low collagen density, which corresponds with clinical observations identifying this region as being more susceptible to damage during the onset of glaucoma. Further application of this technique will help characterize the relationship of age, race and gender on the morphology of the LC.