NERVE FIBER ANALYSIS FOR GLAUCOMA SUSPECTS WITH THE SCANNING LASER POLARIMETER

J. Jimenez-Roman, C. Sanchez-Galeana, J. Diaz and F. Gil-Carrasco

Department of Glaucoma, Asociacion para Evitar la ceguera en Mexico., Mexico

Purpose.- To determine nerve fiber layer thickness in glaucoma suspects.  Material and method.- It is a crossover comparative and open study between march 1998 to February 1999.  Group I 50 eyes,  Healthy subjects. Group II  170 eyes, glaucoma suspects.

Results.- The nerve fiber polarimetric results for Group I were:  Integral polar total 0.7155 mm2 ( S.D. 0.1526) and Polar Total mean 80.09 um (S.D. 15.9). Sector values on superior, inferior, nasal and temporal were recorded. The Polar nerve fiber polarimetric results were: Integral polar total  0.6199 mm2 (S.D. 0.9603) Total Polar Average 65.78 (S.D. 6.81).  Conclusions.- We found decreased thickness of nerve fiber layer in the superior, inferior and nasal quadrants in a Mexican mestizo population.