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Isometric force measured in human horizontal eye muscles attached to or detached from the globe

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Abstract

Background

Human eye muscle tension has been measured directly only in detached condition. The purpose of this study is to compare force development in single, horizontal human eye muscle during saccadic eye movements, first when the muscle was still attached and later when it was detached from the globe.

Methods

Eleven horizontal muscles of eight patients were examined during surgery under topical anesthesia for concomitant strabismus. None of the muscles examined had been operated before. Isometric muscle tension was recorded with a strain gauge system, to which the muscle tendon was attached by a silk suture. The subjects made saccadic eye movements with the non-recorded eye by fixating light-emitting diodes in the center and at 10, 20, and 30° horizontally to each side. Continuous and stepwise saccades were produced. In the tension signals, peak tension (Fp), steady tension (Fs), and the ratio Fp/Fs were measured. Statistical analysis was done with multivariate analysis of variance.

Results

The values of Fp, Fs, and Fp/Fs at different amplitudes of the saccadic eye movements were compared in the attached and the detached muscle. There were no consistent statistical differences between the values obtained in the two conditions.

Conclusions

The muscle force development, measured at the tendon, was the same in muscles attached to the globe and in muscles free from the globe. Thus isometric muscle tension can be adequately recorded in muscles still attached to the globe, which increases the possibilities for studying contractile properties of various eye muscles during ophthalmic surgery procedures performed under topical anesthesia.

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Acknowledgements

We want to express our deep gratitude to Professor Roberto Bolzani, Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, for the extensive help he has been giving us with the tension recording equipment, and the analysis and the statistical evaluation of the tension results. We want to thank Birger Malmström and Joakim Sjögren of the Department of Medical Technology, Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden for excellent technical support. We would also like to thank Nicoletta Longo MD, of the Department of Anesthesiology, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital for her assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Karolinska Institutet, St Erik’s Eye Hospital, The Bernadotte Laboratories, 112 82, Stockholm, Sweden

    Gunnar Lennerstrand & Suna Tian

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Costantino Schiavi & Emilio C. Campos

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Mariagrazia Benassi

Authors
  1. Gunnar Lennerstrand
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  2. Costantino Schiavi
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  3. Suna Tian
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  4. Mariagrazia Benassi
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  5. Emilio C. Campos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gunnar Lennerstrand.

Additional information

Financial support for this study was obtained from The Sigvard & Marianne Bernadotte Research Foundation for Children’s Eye Care to the authors GL, RB and MB; The Research Council of the Stockholm County to GL; The Karolinska Institute Research Foundation, to GL and ST; a grant of the University of Bologna to ECC (ex 60% MIUR); a donation of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna to ECC; and a grant of the MIUR (ex 40%) to CS.

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Lennerstrand, G., Schiavi, C., Tian, S. et al. Isometric force measured in human horizontal eye muscles attached to or detached from the globe. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmo 244, 539–544 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-005-0183-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-005-0183-4

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