Purpose
The use of handheld (HH) spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) may be useful in improving accessibility during eye screening in which traditional table-top (TT) SD-OCT imaging cannot be obtained. To study the utility of HH SD-OCT during urban community eye screening, and compare it to TT SD-OCT.
Methods
22 subjects were prospectively included during telemedicine eye screenings in Newark, NJ. HH and TT SD-OCT scans were performed using the iVue SD-OCT (Optovue Corporation, USA), with left eyes included in the analysis. Demographics, number of attempts to acquire HH image, scan quality index (SQI), ganglion cell complex thickness (GCT=retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell body, inner plexiform layer) and macular retinal thickness (central, superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal quadrants) were collected. With a cut off value of 40, SQI was classified as either “good” or “poor,” with the latter deemed unacceptable. Means, standard deviation, and paired t-tests were used to compare parameters of HH and TT scans.
Results
Adequate scans were obtained from 21 subjects (21 eyes, cataract precluded measurement in 1 subject). Mean age was 44±14 years. 8 eyes (38%) required multiple attempts (mean=2.5) for adequate HH image acquisition. The mean SQI was good for both TT and HH images, but was higher in TT (66.62) vs. HH (60.76) (P=0.006). The mean GCT and macular retinal thickness acquired by HH and TT SD-OCT are summarized in Table 1. Differences in thickness between HH and TT were not statistically different for any parameter.
Conclusions
Our results highlight the feasibility of using HH SD-OCT in urban community eye screening. SQI was good for HH and TT SD-OCT, although 38% of subjects required multiple attempts during HH scan acquisition. Measured parameters (GCT and macular retinal thickness) were not significantly different between HH and TT SD-OCT. A larger study will further characterize the role of HH SD-OCT during telescreening.
Keywords: 552 imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) •
550 imaging/image analysis: clinical •
465 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: systems/equipment/techniques