SCANNING LASER POLARIMETRY OF THE RETINAL NERVE-FIBER LAYER IN PRIMARY OPEN-ANGLE AND CAPSULAR GLAUCOMA

Aims-To evaluate the clinical value of scanning laser polarimetry with the nerve fibre analyser type II in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG ) and capsular glaucoma. Methods-Scanning laser polarimetry was perfor med on one eye of 30 patients suffering from POAG, 25 patients sufferi ng from capsular glaucoma, and on 35 healthy control subjects. The ret inal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness values were compared among the groups. Reproducibility of the measurements was calculated and the in fluence of pilocarpine induced miosis on the results was investigated. Results-RNFL thickness in the superior and inferior sectors, as well as along the total circumference was significantly lower in both glauc oma groups than in the control eyes (p<0.05). None of the thickness va lues differed between the two glaucoma groups. Reproducibility was com parable in all groups; the coefficient of variation varied between 3.0 % and 8.9% for the different sectors investigated. Miosis had no signi ficant impact either on the thickness values or on the reproducibility (p>0.05). Conclusion-The results suggest that scanning laser polarime try is a useful method for nerve fibre layer analysis in glaucoma, and that it is not influenced by the pupil size.