Morphometric features of laminar pores in lamina cribrosa observed by scanning laser ophthalmoscopy.

PURPOSE To describe a method for making morphometric analysis of the pores in the lamina cribrosa with a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO). METHODS Sixteen consecutive images were acquired with an SLO from the retinal surface to the bottom of the optic disc in +0.25-diopter increments. An He-Ne laser (633 nm) with a 20 degrees field of view was used. The images from each section were processed and combined with the aid of Macintosh software. RESULTS Eyes with physiological cupping showed uniformly round or nearly round pores, whereas eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma frequently had compressed pores. CONCLUSIONS In vivo morphometry of the surface of the internal lamina cribrosa can be performed by this technique, which should be useful for evaluating the progression of glaucomatous changes of the optic nerve head.