Examining the nerve fibre layer in glaucoma

It has long been established that the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thins in glaucoma. Such thinning may be the earliest sign in glaucoma, even years before changes to the optic nerve head or visual field become apparent. For years, the RNFL has been difficult to clinically assess and document. With the advent of scanning laser polarimetry (commercially available in the GDx VCC), the RNFL can now be readily explored. Inbuilt automated classifiers may assist clinicians in reaching a diagnosis. There is evidence to suggest that structural changes, measured with the GDx indeed precede functional changes (visual…