초록 ▼

Apparatus is provided for determining the topography, thickness, and fiber orientation of the nerve fiber layer at the fundus of the eye by measuring the polarization shift induced in a return beam of polarized light which is reflected at the ocular fundus from an incident beam of a known polarizati

Apparatus is provided for determining the topography, thickness, and fiber orientation of the nerve fiber layer at the fundus of the eye by measuring the polarization shift induced in a return beam of polarized light which is reflected at the ocular fundus from an incident beam of a known polarization state. A corneal polarization compensator effectively cancels the birefringent effects of the cornea and other portions of the eye anterior to the fundus, so that clinically meaningful results are produced.

대표청구항 ▼

[ It is hereby claimed:] [1.] An apparatus for analyzing an eye having an anterior portion and a posterior portion, comprising:(a) a polarized light source for producing an incident diagnostic beam of known state of polarization;(b) an optics system transmitting said incident diagnostic beam into an

[ It is hereby claimed:] [1.] An apparatus for analyzing an eye having an anterior portion and a posterior portion, comprising:(a) a polarized light source for producing an incident diagnostic beam of known state of polarization;(b) an optics system transmitting said incident diagnostic beam into an eye through the pupil, where it is reflected from the interior of the eye as a return diagnostic beam, the optics system collecting said return diagnostic beam and directing same to a polarization sensitive detection device;(c) a polarization sensitive detection device for collecting and transducing information about the state of polarization of said return diagnostic beam into an electrical signal, the electrical signal being representative of the state of polarization of the return diagnostic beam whereby the electrical signal can be used to indicate the state of polarization of the return beam; and(d) a corneal polarization compensator positioned and configured for modifying the polarization of at least one of said diagnostic beams to thereby facilitate assessment of any alteration of the polarization state of said return diagnostic beam caused by the polarization properties of the posterior portion of the eye.