Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: The optical coherence tomograph III (OCT III) features a new evaluation technique which possibly allows the quantification of optic disc structure. Since for any new technique, its reproducibility has to be evaluated before it may be used for the detection of diseases, it was the purpose of the present study to examine the reproducibility of the OCT. Methods: The study included 10 eyes of 10 persons who underwent 15 OCT examinations of the optic disc which were performed by 3 independent examiners. The variation coefficient was calculated as the ratio of the mean of the standard deviations divided by the mean of the means. Results: The interindividual variation coefficient was for the repeated measurements of the optic disc area 8.48±3.71%, for the optic cup area 24.35±13.44%, and for the area of the neuroretinal rim 37.07±80.42%. After eliminating atypical disc morphologies from the analysis (prominent pigmentary konus, very small disc without cupping), the respective values improved to 7.34 ± 1.99%, 17.33 ± 8.02%, and 11.49 ± 6.12% respectively. Conclusions: Morphometric measurements of the optic disc by the OCT are prone to artifacts due to atypical disc configurations. Accounted for that, the reproducibility of optical coherence tomography for measurement of the optic disc varies between 7% and 17%. This data may be important for the interpretation of measured differences between normal subjects and glaucoma suspects or patients with manifest glaucoma.
Keywords: imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, S • optic disc • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: sys