Detection of Glaucoma With Scanning Laser Polarimetry

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Abstract
SCANNING LASER polarimetry is a diagnostic method that has been developed to measure quantitatively the thickness of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL).1-3 It is based on the assumption that the parallel arrangement of microtubules within the RNFL causes a change in the state of polarization of an illuminating laser beam, also know as retardation, and that this can be measured in the light reflected from the retina.1 Since retardation is linearly related to the thickness of the RNFL in hemisected, fixated monkey eyes in which the cornea and lens have been removed, it has been assumed that it might also be related to RNFL thickness in intact human eyes.2,3 This technique is independent of a reference plane and magnification effects of the eye and is attractive because it provides rapid, objective data.3