Ultrasound characterization of ocular tissue in the frequency range from 50 MHz to 100 MHz

The ultrasonic properties of ocular tissues including sclera, cornea, ciliary body and iris are studied over the frequency range from 50 to 100 MHz using the ultrasound backscatter microscopic technique. The scleral tissue shows the highest speed, the highest attenuation coefficient, and the highest backscatter coefficient. The speed of sound for the four eye tissues ranges from 1622 m/s for sclera to 1542 m/s for iris. At 50 MHz, attenuation coefficients range from 1.3 dB/mm to 4.3 dB/mm with frequency dependency ranging from 1.4 to 1.56. The first measurements of backscatter coefficients are reported. It is shown that the ultrasound backscatter microscopic technique is a useful device for tissue characterization in the high frequency range