CSLT appears to perform similarly to SLP and OCT in detecting localized RNFL defects

Researchers compared the ability of confocal scanning laser tomography (CSLT), scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) to detect localized retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defects which were visible on color optic disc photographs. Two observers identified 43 patients (51 eyes) with primary open-angle glaucoma. Controls included 32 normal subjects (51 eyes). Three masked observers evaluated the images. Approximately 20 to 40 percent of localized RNFL defects identified by color optic disc photographs were not detected by CSLT, SPL or OCT. Even when the results of the three devices are combined, about 20 percent of eyes with localized RNFL defects were still not detected. They also note that while SLP showed a higher number of false-positive results than the other techniques, it also had a higher proportion of correctly identified RNFL defects in the glaucoma population.