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Abstract #6641 Published in IGR 4-1
Axonal loss from acute optic neuropathy documented by scanning laser polarimetry
Meier FM; Bernasconi P; Sturmer J; Caubergh MJ; Landau KBritish Journal of Ophthalmology 2002; 86: 285-287
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Retinal nerve fiber layer analysis by scanning laser polarimetry has been shown to facilitate diagnosis of glaucoma, while its role in glaucoma follow-up is still unclear. A major difficulty is the slow reduction of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in glaucomatous optic neuropathy. Eyes of patients were studied after acute retrobulbar optic nerve lesion in order to evaluate the usefulness of scanning laser polarimetry in documenting retinal nerve fiber layer loss over time. METHODS: Five patients who suffered severe retrobulbar optic neuropathy had repeated measurements of the retinal nerve fiber layer using scanning laser polarimetry at various intervals, the first examination being within one week of injury. RESULTS: All eyes showed a marked decrease in peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, which followed an exponential curve and occurred predominantly within eight weeks of injury. Compared to a previous study using red-free photographs, scanning laser polarimetry showed retinal nerve fiber layer loss earlier in the course of descending atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Scanning laser polarimetry is useful for early detection and documentation of retinal nerve fiber layer loss following acute injury to the retrobulbar optic nerve. It seems to be a promising tool for the follow-up of individual glaucoma patients
Dr. F.M. Meier, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
Classification:
2.13 Retina and retinal nerve fibre layer (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)
6.9.1 Laser scanning (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods > 6.9 Computerized image analysis)
10 Differential diagnosis e.g. anterior and posterior ischemic optic neuropathy