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Biomechanical changes and associated factors of preserved SMILE-derived corneal stromal lenticules

Eye volume 40, pages 201–206 (2026)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objectives

To investigate the biomechanical changes and associated factors of SMILE-derived lenticules under various preservation conditions.

Methods

A total of 520 corneal stromal lenticules of 260 patients (male: female 98:162, age 28.54 ± 5.98 years, mean spherical error –4.47 ± 1.63 D) were derived during small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) surgeries, and were stored in glycerol, silicone oil, Optisol and cryopreservation for 1 day, 1 week or 1 month. Spherical error, cylindrical error as well as other main parameters were evaluated. A nanoindenter system was used to measure the effective Young’s modulus of each lenticule. Changes in effective Young’s modulus were evaluated in each group among all time points.

Results

There was no statistical significance in effective Young’s moduli of lenticules in the glycerol group among all preservation times, while the lowest effective Young’s modulus appeared when preserved for 1 month, 1 week, and 1 day in the silicone oil, Optisol, and cryopreservation group. Among all factors observed, the spherical error of SMILE-derived lenticules was a positive influencing factor on their biomechanics (P = 0.04*).

Conclusions

It is feasible to maintain biomechanical stability of SMILE-derived lenticules in glycerol in the short term. Thickness is a positive influencing factor on the biomechanics of SMILE-derived lenticules.

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Fig. 1: Group division of lenticule preservation.
Fig. 2: Working interface of the nanoindenter system.
Fig. 3: Changes in biomechanics of preserved lenticules with time.
Fig. 4: Changes in biomechanics of lenticules in different preservation materials.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate the contributions of all patients, as well as the support from all stuff in Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University.

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China (2023YFA0915000 (04)). National Natural Science Foundation of China (82371096). Project of Shanghai Science and Technology (20410710100). Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Laser and Autostereoscopic 3D for Vision Care (20DZ22550005) Sailing Program of Shanghai Science and Technology Commission (22YF1405900).

Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Xiaosong Han, Bingqing Sun.

  2. These authors jointly supervised this work: Xingtao Zhou, Meiyan Li.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

    Xiaosong Han, Bingqing Sun, Xiaoyu Zhang, Jing Zhao, Meng Li, Haipeng Xu, Xingtao Zhou & Meiyan Li

  2. NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China

    Xiaosong Han, Bingqing Sun, Xiaoyu Zhang, Jing Zhao, Meng Li, Haipeng Xu, Xingtao Zhou & Meiyan Li

  3. Shanghai Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Shanghai, China

    Xiaosong Han, Bingqing Sun, Xiaoyu Zhang, Jing Zhao, Meng Li, Haipeng Xu, Xingtao Zhou & Meiyan Li

  4. Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Laser and Autostereoscopic 3D for Vision Care, Shanghai, China

    Xiaosong Han, Bingqing Sun, Xiaoyu Zhang, Jing Zhao, Meng Li, Haipeng Xu, Xingtao Zhou & Meiyan Li

Authors
  1. Xiaosong Han
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Contributions

XH collected the data with BS and drafted the manuscript. XZ contributed to design of methodology. JZ analysed the data. ML and HX supervised and revised the manuscript for critical review. XZ and ML contributed to the conceptualisation.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Xingtao Zhou or Meiyan Li.

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Han, X., Sun, B., Zhang, X. et al. Biomechanical changes and associated factors of preserved SMILE-derived corneal stromal lenticules. Eye 40, 201–206 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-025-04115-3

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