Correlation Between Polarimetric Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness and Retinal Sensitivity Determined With Frequency-Doubling Technology

Abstract

Correlation between polarimetric retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measured with variable corneal compensation and retinal sensitivity measured with frequency-doubling technology (FDT) and standard automated perimetry (SAP) was investigated. Twenty-four consecutive patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma and 17 healthy control subjects (1 randomly selected eye for each subject) were evaluated. For all subjects, quadrant scanning laser polarimetry parameters correlated positively with both FDT and SAP mean sensitivity of the opposite hemifield (P< .001). Global scanning laser polarimetry parameters correlated positively with FDT-mean sensitivity, SAP-mean sensitivity, and FDT-mean deviation, and negatively with SAP-mean deviation (in SAP, mean deviation is positive in case of sensitivity loss) (P < or = .02). The nerve fiber indicator also correlated with FDT-pattern standard deviation and SAP-corrected loss variance (P < or = .01). Using un-logged sensitivity values, no further correlations were found. Our results show that a similar structure-function relationship exists between polarimetric retinal nerve fiber layer thickness determined with variable corneal compensation and retinal sensitivity measured with SAP and FDT.