title: Scanning laser polarimetry and retinal thickness analysis before and after laser in situ keratomileusis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate changes in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using a scanning laser polarimeter with fixed corneal compensation (GDx) and the retinal thickness analyzer (RTA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight eyes of 19 healthy subjects (10 female and 9 male; mean age 37.0-/+8.8 years) underwent GDx and RTA measurements before and after LASIK. All subjects revealed mild to high myopia (mean spherical refraction: -4.0-/+2.75 D). Measurements using GDx were followed by RTA measurements after pupil dilation. All measurements were performed the day before LASIK and 1 week postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GDx revealed a decrease in nerve fiber layer thickness measurements after LASIK, but did not reach statistical significance (p>0.05). Using RTA, mean RNFL thickness (MRNFL) and RNFL cross sectional area decreased significantly after LASIK (p=0.03 and p=0.02, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Scanning laser polarimetry revealed a slight decrease in RNFL thickness measurements after LASIK. MRNFL and RNFL cross section were significantly lower after LASIK using RTA. The changes might be artifacts in a small group of myopic subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Mainz, Mainz - Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Dick
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Grus
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer