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Scanning laser polarimetry and retinal thickness analysis before and after laser in situ keratomileusis
E Hoffmann1, H B Dick, F H Grus
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Mainz, Mainz - Germany.
Purpose:
To evaluate changes in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using a scanning laser polarimeter with fixed corneal compensation (GDx) and the retinal thickness analyzer (RTA).
Methods:
Thirty-eight eyes of 19 healthy subjects (10 female and 9 male; mean age 37.0-/+8.8 years) underwent GDx and RTA measurements before and after LASIK. All subjects revealed mild to high myopia (mean spherical refraction: -4.0-/+2.75 D). Measurements using GDx were followed by RTA measurements after pupil dilation. All measurements were performed the day before LASIK and 1 week postoperatively.
Results:
GDx revealed a decrease in nerve fiber layer thickness measurements after LASIK, but did not reach statistical significance (p>0.05). Using RTA, mean RNFL thickness (MRNFL) and RNFL cross sectional area decreased significantly after LASIK (p=0.03 and p=0.02, respectively).
Conclusions:
Scanning laser polarimetry revealed a slight decrease in RNFL thickness measurements after LASIK. MRNFL and RNFL cross section were significantly lower after LASIK using RTA. The changes might be artifacts in a small group of myopic subjects.
