Detection of Fundus Abnormalities in Diabetic Retinopathy using Spectal Domain OCT versus Mydriatic Color Fundus Imaging

Abstract

 

Purpose

 

To determine the sensitivity for detection of retinal abnormalities using volume Spectral Domain OCT versus single field fundus imaging in eyes of patients with diabetes.

 

Methods

 

Images from consecutive patients in a retina clinic undergoing simultaneous volume spectral domain OCT scanning (512x128) and single field, foveal-centered mydriatic 45 degree color fundus imaging with a 3D-OCT-1000 (Topcon Corp, Tokyo, Japan) over a 29 month period were retrospectively collected. Findings for each modality (Table 1) were graded independently by two graders as being present, questionable or absent. Findings from both modalities were combined to form the gold standard for comparison for each modality.

 

Results

 

A total of 312 volume OCT scans and fundus images from 312 eyes of 167 patients were included in this study. 234 eyes were clinically diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy (DR) with varying severities. In this cohort (Table 1), OCT was more sensitive than color photos for most features, in particular the detection of cystoid macular edema and vitreous hemorrhage. Vascular abnormalities such as venous beading were not detectable by OCT.

 

Conclusions

 

In this study, OCT was more sensitive than a color fundus photograph for detection of many abnormalities in eyes of patients with diabetes. The prospect of OCT as a potential adjunctive tool in screening applications warrants further study.

 

 

Keywords: 499 diabetic retinopathy • 552 imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound)