Evaluation of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurement following laser in situ keratomileusis using scanning laser polarimetry.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) on the measurement of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness by scanning laser polarimetry using customized corneal compensation in myopes.


METHODS
Scanning laser polarimetry was performed on 54 eyes of 54 healthy patients with myopia using the glaucoma diagnostics variable corneal compensation (GDx VCC) instrument (Laser Diagnostic Technologies, San Diego, California) before and a week after LASIK. The various parameters were compared using the Student's t test.


RESULTS
No statistically significant change was observed in any of the retinal nerve fiber layer parameters before and after LASIK.


CONCLUSIONS
While the measurement of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness by scanning laser polarimetry is affected by anterior segment birefringent properties and LASIK would be expected to produce changes in the same, customized corneal compensation using the GDx VCC seems to adequately compensate for these changes.
Dada
Tanuj
T
Department of Clinical Ophthalmology, Dr. R. P. Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
Chaudhary
Sunil
S
Muralidhar
Rajamani
R
Nair
Soman
S
Sihota
Ramanjit
R
Vajpayee
Rasik B
RB
D001718:Birefringence; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D007834:Lasers; D009216:Myopia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*