The effect of pupil size on the measurement of corneal birefringence properties: preliminary study

Abstract

We used a partial Mueller matrix polarimeter to measure the corneal anisotropic properties at three pupil sizes (dilated, natural, and constricted). The geometrical parameters of first order isochromes were described by quadrilaterals. These parameters are statistically significantly different between the three pupil sizes. The pupillary size changes do not influence the azimuth angle distribution α. The retardation R and birefringence distributions show asymmetry in the nasal–temporal cross-section. There are differences between pupil sizes for both nasal and temporal parts of the cornea for these distributions. Iridial light scattering and diffraction might be the reason for these differences.