Scanning laser polarimetry with enhanced corneal compensation for detection of axonal loss in band atrophy of the optic nerve.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the abilities of scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) with enhanced corneal compensation (ECC) and variable corneal compensation (VCC) modes for detection of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) loss in eyes with band atrophy (BA) of the optic nerve.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Thirty-seven eyes from 37 patients with BA and temporal visual field defect from chiasmal compression and 40 eyes from 40 healthy subjects were studied. Subjects underwent standard automated perimetry and RNFL measurements using an SLP device equipped with VCC and ECC. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated for each parameter. Pearson correlation coefficients were obtained to evaluate the relationship between RNFL thickness parameters and severity of visual field loss, as assessed by the temporal mean defect.


RESULTS
All RNFL thickness parameters were significantly lower in eyes with BA compared with normal eyes with both compensation modes. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the areas under the ROC curves for the different parameters between GDx VCC and ECC (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc, Dublin, California, USA). Structure-function relationships also were similar for both compensation modes.


CONCLUSIONS
No significant differences were found between the diagnostic accuracy of GDx ECC and that of VCC for detection of BA of the optic nerve. The use of GDx ECC does not seem to provide a better evaluation of RNFL loss on the temporal and nasal sectors of the peripapillary retina in subjects with BA of the optic nerve.
Monteiro
Mário L R
ML
Division of Ophthalmology, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil. mlrmonteiro@terra.com.br
Moura
Frederico C
FC
Medeiros
Felipe A
FA
D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology*; D001718:Birefringence; D003315:Cornea / Q000502:physiology*; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D009896:Optic Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D014794:Visual Fields