Assessment of the retinal nerve fiber layer by scanning-laser polarimetry

Andreas W. Dreher; Eric D. Bailey

doi:10.1117/12.147539

24 June 1993 Assessment of the retinal nerve fiber layer by scanning-laser polarimetry

Andreas W. Dreher, Eric D. Bailey

Proceedings Volume 1877, Ophthalmic Technologies III; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.147539
Event: OE/LASE'93: Optics, Electro-Optics, and Laser Applications in Scienceand Engineering, 1993, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

In the eye, the retinal nerve fibers transmit the visual signal from the photoreceptors to the brain. In certain diseases, i.e., glaucoma, these nerve fibers are damaged, resulting in impaired vision or blindness. The retinal nerve fiber layer consists of parallel structures of diameter smaller than the wavelength of light. Therefore, this qualifies it as a form birefringent structure, capable of changing the state of polarization of light double passing it. The amount of change in the state of polarization (retardation) can be assessed with a polarimeter and is proportional to the thickness of the nerve fiber layer at the measurement location. A scanning laser polarimeter (Nerve Fiber Analyzer^TM) is described that employs a low power near infra-red laser beam to illuminate the human retina. In normal eyes, a thick retinal nerve fiber layer was measured in the superior and inferior regions of the peripapillary retina. In glaucoma eyes, this normal nerve fiber layer thickness distribution was found to be disturbed. The measured retinal nerve fiber directions indicated that the retinal nerve fiber layer around the optic nerve head of a normal eye is radially symmetrical.

Citation Download Citation

Andreas W. Dreher and Eric D. Bailey "Assessment of the retinal nerve fiber layer by scanning-laser polarimetry", Proc. SPIE 1877, Ophthalmic Technologies III, (24 June 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.147539

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available