Retinal diseases such as glaucoma are characterized by defects in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). Defects in the RNFL can provide the earliest signs of glaucoma. Detection of the earliest signs of structural change in the nerve fiber layer would improve the diagnosis of glaucoma. Furthermore, high-resolution imaging polarimetry of the nerve fiber layer will allow healthy and diseased regions of the retina to be isolated. As a result, treatment can be focused on unhealthy regions while leaving the normal tissue intact. Monitoring the health of the nerve fiber layer is important for tracking the stages of retinal disease. Imaging polarimetry provides an in vivo and quantitative assessment of the RNFL. Due to the birefringence of the RNFL, the polarization of illuminating laser light is altered after scattering from the RNFL. This change of polarization state can be measured and related to the thickness and optical properties of the RNFL. Research has shown that scanning laser polarimetry provides reproducible measures of the RNFL. The University of Arizona Optical Sciences Center has developed the technology for a snapshot retinal imaging polarimeter for the in vivo imaging of the retina for screening and diagnosis of retinal disease. The device provides a high resolution image of the retina and measures the polarization information from each spatial location of the retina. The snapshot retinal imaging polarimeter (SRIP) employs no moving parts and collects all necessary data in a single frame time, with significant improvements in SNR and spatial resolution over existing instruments. Furthermore, the device could potentially be a low-cost add-on to existing fundus cameras, allowing a more widespread utility than existing devices. ? ?
| DeHoog, Edward; Luo, Haitao; Oka, Kazuhiko et al. (2009) Snapshot polarimeter fundus camera. Appl Opt 48:1663-7 |
