Scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) for optic nerve head drusen
A Mistlberger1, S Sitte, A Hommer
1Department of Ophthalmology, County Hospital Salzburg, Austria.
International Ophthalmology
|April 12, 2002
Summary
Scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) effectively assesses retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in optic nerve head drusen (ONHD) patients. SLP correlates with visual field defects, aiding in monitoring functional loss despite drusen visibility.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Imaging
- Neuro-ophthalmology
Background:
- Optic nerve head drusen (ONHD) can cause visual field defects.
- Clinical presentation of ONHD varies from invisible to protruding.
- Scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) offers objective retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate SLP's applicability in patients with visible and invisible ONHD.
- To assess the correlation between SLP measurements and visual field defects in ONHD patients.
- To determine if clinical drusen visibility impacts RNFL thickness measurements.
Main Methods:
- SLP was used to measure RNFL thickness in 20 ONHD patients (38 eyes).
- Patients were categorized based on the presence or absence of visual field defects.
- Demographic, perimetric, and SLP data were analyzed and compared between groups.
Main Results:
- SLP parameters showed significant differences between subjects with normal and abnormal visual fields.
- RNFL thickness measurements were similar in patients with visible versus invisible drusen.
- Clinical drusen visibility did not correlate with RNFL thinning, but SLP correlated with functional loss.
Conclusions:
- SLP is a valuable tool for RNFL evaluation in ONHD patients.
- SLP demonstrates a strong correlation with functional visual field loss.
- SLP may serve as a useful technology for long-term follow-up of ONHD.
