Use of reflecto-modulometry to study the optical quality of the inner retina.

The modulation of interference fringes reflected by the peripheral fundus is always lowered by passage through the outer segments of the photoreceptors. In addition, it also may be degraded by passage through a diseased inner retina or through the choroid (in cases where there is only light pigmentation of the fundus). The contributions of the inner retina and choroid can be differentiated by varying the spatial frequency of fringes, or by studying the directionality of the fundus reflection. Reflecto-modulometry seems to be an appropriate method for analysing pathological changes in the optical quality of the inner retina.