Influence of myelinated retinal nerve fibers on scanning laser polarimetry using variable and enhanced corneal compensation methods.

Five eyes with myelinated retinal nerve fibers were imaged using a scanning laser polarimeter with variable corneal compensation and with enhanced corneal compensation (a new research software). Using variable corneal compensation, areas of myelinated retinal nerve fibers uniformly appeared as areas of increased retardation. Using enhanced corneal compensation software, the same myelinated retinal nerve fiber areas adjacent to the optic nerve head appeared as areas of clinically significant thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer in the superior and inferior quadrants, and as areas of increased retinal nerve fiber layer thickness nasally and temporally. Wedge-shaped myelinated retinal nerve fibers along a retinal nerve fiber bundle and discontinuous to the optic nerve head caused increased retardation with both compensation methods. The results show that influence of myelinated retinal nerve fibers on scanning laser polarimetric results varies according to the compensation method and the retinal location of the myelinated retinal nerve fibers.