Purpose: The authors have further developed their method of retinal th
ickness analysis to rapidly generate multiple optical cross sections o
f the retina and provide thickness maps at the posterior pole. The pot
ential use of this method was evaluated in a number of macular disorde
rs. Methods: A commercial prototype of the scanning retinal thickness
analyzer was used to examine patients with a variety of macular diseas
es. A laser slit beam was projected on the retina and scanned across a
2- x 2-mm retinal area in 200 to 400 msec. The images of the intersec
tion of the laser slit beam with the retina were recorded digitally an
d used for visualization of disease. Nine scans were combined, and an
operator-free algorithm generated a three-dimensional thickness map at
the posterior pole. Results: Cysts could be visualized in macular ede
ma associated with diabetes mellitus and with retinal vein occlusion.
The retinal thickness map quantitated the location, extent, and height
of the edema. In serous detachment, the extent and the height of the
retinal pigment epithelial elevation could be documented. In cases of
suspected macular holes and pseudoholes, the diagnosis was considered
more reliable than with conventional biomicroscopy. The extent of epir
etinal membranes, the sites of adherence, and associated intraretinal
cystic changes were identified. In glaucoma, the anatomic course of lo
calized loss of neuronal retinal tissue could be traced. Conclusions:
Scanning retinal thickness analysis provided multiple optical cross se
ctions of the retina and yielded information useful in the diagnosis a
nd monitoring of macular diseases. The three-dimensional thickness map
provided quantitative information that may be useful for clinical man
agement.