Patent ID: 8650018

Claim:
A method for determining the onset of glaucoma which comprises the steps of: using an imaging unit to create a first image of an Optical Nerve Head (ONH) of a patient at a first pressure; using the imaging unit to create a second image of the ONH at a second pressure established by a pressure unit; using a computer programmed to assess the first image and the second image to establish data of stress-strain characteristics for tissue of the ONH at each of a plurality of locations in the ONH; programming a Finite Element Model (FEM) of an ONH with the data established in the assessing step, the FEM having elements respectively representative of a Lamina Cribrosa (LC), Prelaminar Neural Tissue (PrNT), Postlaminar Neural Tissue (PoNT), and Sclera, wherein each element of the FEM is defined by mathematical parameters based on the data; varying parameters of the FEM to obtain a profile for the ONH of the patient; and evaluating the profile in comparison with empirical statistics to predict an onset of glaucoma.