Abstract

One of the tools to have recently achieved notice in the eye clinic is the laser interferometer. Due to the coherent characteristic of the laser, the light is not as affected by the ocular media as is normal incoherent light, which is usually used to determine the visual acuity of the patient. With the laser interferometer, the clinician can make a more confident determination prior to surgery as to the potential acuity of the patient. This aids in examination of the cost/benefit ratio for the patient. If cornea, tens, or vitreous surgery occurs and there is no improvement, the risk of surgery was for naught. The laser interferometer permits determination of the quality of the retinal visual function beyond the ocular media prior to surgery and allows the clinician to predict with certainty the amount of possible surgical improvement.

© 1985 Optical Society of America