Comparison of OCT and Fundus Photographic Assessments of Macular Edema

Abstract

 

Abstract:

 

To compare optical coherence tomographic scans (OCT)and stereoscopic color fundus photographs (FP) as measures ofthe severity of diabetic macular edema (DME) and as predictorsof concurrent visual acuity (VA). In an ongoing 78–centerstudy comparing two photocoagulation techniques for DME, baselineOCT, FP and best corrected E–ETDRS VA were obtained from227 study eyes and 133 fellow eyes. Study eye eligibility includedVA > 20/400, and clinical and OCT central or paracentralretinal thickening (RT). Comparisons were made between OCT RTand the ETDRS scale of RT (8 steps ranging from No–RTto RT at macular center >2x normal retina 0.5–1.0 DDfrom center) and between each measure of RT and VA. Median (25^th, 75^th percentiles) retinal thickness in the OCTcentral subfield increased from 235 (210,265) µm for eyeswith No–RT to 490 (455,618) µm for eyes with Severe–RT(Spearman correlation coefficient [scc] 0.68); but the rangesbetween steps were overlapping. VA had a fair correlation withRT as measured by either FP (scc: 0.38) or OCT (scc: 0.47). There is good, although not excellent, correlationbetween FP and OCT estimates of RT, and fair correlation ofRT with VA.

 

Supported by NEI grants U10 EY14231, 5 U10 EY14269–03,5 U10 EY14229.

 

 

 

 

Keywords: diabetic retinopathy • diabetes • macula/fovea