Birefringent properties of the cornea measured by a Mueller type polarimeter in healthy adults and children.

Mueller type polarimeter was used for in vivo measurements of the anisotropic parameters (retardation and azimuth angle) of corneas. To determine birefringence, corneal thickness was measured with a Scheimpflug camera (Corvist ST). The retardation distributions in the nasal-temporal cross-section in both children (N=7) and adults (N=38) groups occurred asymmetrical. The asymmetry in birefringence distributions was observed only in adults group. The geometrical analysis of the first order isochromes in both age groups showed the asymmetry of its shapes. The changes of symmetry in birefringent properties with age may have potential relationship with changing corneal biometry.