Purpose:
To determine the percentage of images obtained in a clinical practice that are of sufficiently good quality that they are clinically useful
Methods:
Images of 100 eyes were collected consecutively from a database of each glaucoma imaging device including digital fundus camera (Topcon TRC-50EX retinal camera), HRT II, and Cirrus HD-OCT. Each image was reviewed independently by 2 glaucoma specialists. HRT images of SD 30 μm or less were concluded satisfactory and >40 μm unsatisfactory. OCT images of signal strength >6 were satisfactory and <6 unsatisfactory; also images that were not centered on the disc or showed distortion were unsatisfactory. Where possible to determine a C/D ratio and both investigators agreed, the disc photograph was satisfactory. Where the image was blurred to the point that small blood vessels could not be distinguished, the photograph was considered unsatisfactory.
Results:
Summarized data are illustrated in Table 1. Images obtained from 2D disc photography, 3D disc photography, HRT II, and Cirrus HD-OCT were satisfactory in 92, 80, 60, and 43 eyes, respectively.
Conclusions:
This study was not designed to compare one modality of imaging to other techniques. Its purpose was to establish how often disc/retina images obtained to assist clinicians make clinical decision in patients with glaucoma are likely to be clinically useful.
Keywords: imaging/image analysis: clinical • nerve fiber layer • optic nerve