Analysis of retinal nerve fiber layer birefringence in patients with glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy by polarization sensitive OCT

  • Desissaire S
  • Pollreisz A
  • Sedova A
  • et al.
15Citations
Citations of this article
24Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

The retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) is a fibrous tissue that shows form birefringence. This optical tissue property is related to the microstructure of the nerve fiber axons that carry electrical signals from the retina to the brain. Ocular diseases that are known to cause neurologic changes, like glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy (DR), might alter the birefringence of the RNFL, which could be used for diagnostic purposes. In this pilot study, we used a state-of-the-art polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) system with an integrated retinal tracker to analyze the RNFL birefringence in patients with glaucoma, DR, and in age-matched healthy controls. We recorded 3D PS-OCT raster scans of the optic nerve head area and high-quality averaged circumpapillary PS-OCT scans, from which RNFL thickness, retardation and birefringence were derived. The precision of birefringence measurements was 0.005°/µm. As compared to healthy controls, glaucoma patients showed a slightly reduced birefringence (0.129 vs. 0.135°/µm), although not statistically significant. The DR patients, however, showed a stronger reduction of RNFL birefringence (0.103 vs. 0.135°/µm) which was highly significant. This result might open new avenues into early diagnosis of DR and related neurologic changes.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Desissaire, S., Pollreisz, A., Sedova, A., Hajdu, D., Datlinger, F., Steiner, S., … Hitzenberger, C. K. (2020). Analysis of retinal nerve fiber layer birefringence in patients with glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy by polarization sensitive OCT. Biomedical Optics Express, 11(10), 5488. https://doi.org/10.1364/boe.402475

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free