Purpose: To compare the retinal nerve fiber layer [RNFL] thickness of the amblyopic eye with that of the normal eye in patients with anisometropic and strabismic amblyopia.
Methods: Scanning laser polarimetry was performed with the GDx Nerve Fiber Analyzer (NFA), a scanning laser ophthalmoscope that measures the thickness of the peripapillary RNFL quantitatively and objectively, in vivo, based on the birefringence of the RNFL. Eighteen anisometropic, two strabismic and four combined amblyopic (both anisometropia and strabismus) patients were enrolled in the study. There were 9 male and 15 female patients, age range 7-66 years. Using Student's t-test, 14 GDx parameters in the amblyopic eyes and sound eyes were compared.
Results: The GDx parameters showed no significant differences between the two groups [p > 0.5]. The superior average and inferior average values were 79.50 microm and 80.41 microm, respectively, in the amblyopic group, and 80.75 microm and 82.75 microm, respectively, in the healthy eyes. The average thickness did not differ between amblyopic and sound eyes (65.50 microm and 66.45 microm, respectively).
Conclusion: Assessment of RNFL thickness by means of scanning laser polarimetry revealed no difference between the two eyes in patients with unilateral amblyopia.