Abstract: A method of aligning a polarization-maintaining optical fiber by image profile analysis is provided. The method of aligning a polarization-maintaining optical fiber may include analyzing the polarization-maintaining optical fiber by illuminating a side of the optical fiber; rotating the optical fiber at incremental rotation angles; obtaining an image profile of the optical fiber at each rotation angle such that a focal plane of the image profile is positioned within the optical fiber; measuring an image parameter at each rotation angle based on the respective image profile; and constructing a measured image parameter profile of the optical fiber as a function of rotation angle based on the measured image parameters. The method may also include constructing an approximated image parameter profile of the optical fiber as a function of rotation angle by curve-fitting a mathematical function to the measured image parameter profile.