Thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer in amblyopic and normal eyes: A scanning laser polarimetry study

Abstract

Purpose: To compare scanning laser polarimeter (GDx, Laser Diagnostic Technologies, San Diego, Calif) measurements of the peripapillar retinal nerve fiber layer in amblyopic and normal eyes. Methods: Scanning laser polarimetry was performed on 21 patients with unilateral strabismic amblyopia who had an absence of neurologic diseases or glaucoma and a minimum age of 7 years. A mean retardation map was calculated from separate scans or was considered to be the best scan obtained for each eye. Polarimetric indices were analyzed comparing amblyopic and contralateral normal eyes. Results: The mean age was 15 ± 9 years (7-35 years) and the male:female ratio was 13:8. There were 6 right and 15 left amblyopic eyes, with the amblyopic group having a mean visual acuity of 0.3 ± 0.1. The mean (± SD) indices did not differ significantly between normal and amblyopic eyes, except the number that summates information from the individual parameters, which was higher in normal (20.71 ± 11.98) than in amblyopic (15.14 ± 6.81) eyes, P = .02. Conclusion: There was no statistical difference in thickness of the nerve fiber layer between amblyopic and normal eyes. A previous study found similar results in adults with strabismic amblyopia. (J AAPOS 2001;5:82-4)