Polarization-optical visualization of eye inhomogeneities

Polarization sensitive technique is reported for visualization of eye scattering and birefringent inhomogeneities using digital subtracting of eye images captured by a CCD camera for two orthogonal polarizations of light forming images in the CCD camera. For fast capturing of images the polarization plane of the backscattered light is periodically switched at 90 degrees by an electrooptical PLZT phase plate. This plate is placed close the CCD camera together with a sheet polarizer inserted between camera and the phase plate. Polarization plane is switched applying the voltage 1200 V to the phase plate at a rate of 7.5 Hz. The technique improves visualization due to diminishing of the impact of eye movements and due to accumulation of the image digital data.