Abstract
Utilizing the measured corneal birefringence from a data set of 150 eyes of 75 human subjects, an algorithm and related computer program, based on Müller-Stokes matrix calculus, were developed in MATLAB for assessing the influence of corneal birefringence on retinal birefringence scanning (RBS) and for converging upon an optical/mechanical design using wave plates (“wave-plate-enhanced RBS”) that allows foveal fixation detection essentially independently of corneal birefringence. The RBS computer model, and in particular the optimization algorithm, were verified with experimental human data using an available monocular RBS-based eye fixation monitor. Fixation detection using wave-plate-enhanced RBS is adaptable to less cooperative subjects, including young children at risk for developing amblyopia.
Highlights
Retinal birefringence scanning (RBS) is a technique to monitor the changes in the state of polarized light retro-reflected from the fundus of the human eye
The measurement results show that for all subjects, except one (#4), the strength of the RBS signal during central fixation increased after adding the 61° (133 nm) wave plate oriented at 144° to the optical system, as predicted with the RBS computer model
Note that subject #4 already yielded a remarkably high foveal fixation signal without the wave plate, compared with the signal strength measured without the wave plate for the other tested right eyes, even higher than the foveal signal for subjects 1, 3, and 5 measured after the 61° (133 nm) wave plate had been added to the optical system
Summary
Retinal birefringence scanning (RBS) is a technique to monitor the changes in the state of polarized light retro-reflected from the fundus of the human eye. It was adapted by Guyton and colleagues to detect foveal fixation [1,2]. By detecting the radial symmetry of the foveal architecture, RBS directly assesses true foveal fixation of the eye. This advantage makes it possible to investigate less cooperative subjects, including young children and infants at risk for developing amblyopia, commonly known as “lazy eye,” which is the leading medical cause of decreased vision in childhood. Available photoscreeners can only detect strabismus indirectly and inaccurately via assessment of the positions of the corneal light reflexes
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