CORRELATION OF PERIPAPILLARY NERVE-FIBER LAYER THICKNESS BY SCANNING LASER POLARIMETRY WITH VISUAL-FIELD DEFECTS IN PATIENTS WITH GLAUCOMA

Purpose: To assess the correlation between the results of peripapillar y scanning laser polarimetry of the retinal nerve fiber layer (NFL) an d automated visual field testing in patients with open-angle glaucoma. Methods: Visual fields from 42 patients with varying stages of glauco ma were scored using Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study (C IGTS) criteria. Mean deviation, pattern standard deviation, and CIGTS total and hemifield visual field scores were correlated with peripapil lary NFL thickness measured by scanning laser polarimetry using summed , ratio-based, and modulation parameters.Results: Mean deviation and C IGTS total and upper hemifield score were significantly correlated wit h NFL retardation values using summed, ratio-based, or modulation para meters. The CIGTS lower hemifield score was significantly correlated w ith modulation parameter values only. Correlation of CIGTS scores was significantly stronger with modulation parameters than with summed par ameters (total and lower hemifield scores) and ratio-based parameters (lower hemifield only) by the Hotelling t test. Conclusion: Relative N FL thickness measured by scanning laser polarimetry correlates well wi th visual field defects seen on Humphrey perimetry of patients with op en-angle glaucoma. Modulation parameters, in which the superior and in ferior peak NFL thickness (as measured by scanning laser polarimetry) are adjusted for the patient's average minimum NFL thickness in the na sal and temporal quadrants, provided stronger correlation than summed parameters and ratio-based parameters.