Variable angle retinal nerve fibre layer photography: a review.

Abstract

Optic disc and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) photography have been an integral part of the routine screening of glaucoma patients, ocular hypertensives and glaucoma suspects in Perth since 1979. During this period 60 degrees, 40 degrees, 30 degrees and 8 degrees angles of view were examined for potential use in RNFL photography. The degree of dilation and media opacity is highly variable in glaucoma patients because of the age group involved and the miotic therapy. It was found that the 30 degree angle of view gave the most consistent results for routine RNFL photography. Ocular hypertensives tended to be of a lower mean age and 40 degrees wide angle photography was possible but required two different photographic techniques and was not continued. Both 60 degrees and high-magnification RNFL photography are currently used only with selected patients for teaching and demonstration. A modified Hasselblad 120 roll film camera was used for high-resolution RNFL photography. The Hasselblad adaptors, high-resolution results and comparisons with wide-angle RNFL photographs are illustrated in this paper.