Abstract
Purpose :
To describe the characteristics of a real-world database (RW-DB) of “healthy” eyes obtained from optometry practices.
Methods :
To obtain a RW-DB with healthy appearing OCT reports and a relatively flat age distribution, 3D wide OCT scans from 6804 (6.8K) individuals 18 and older were sampled from a larger database tested at 10 optometry practices that use the Maestro2 instrument (Topcon Healthcare, Japan). Using a reading center method,[1] the OCT Hood reports [2] of both eyes of 4932 (4.9K) individuals were judged of acceptable quality and without signs of pathology. These individuals comprised the 4.9K RW-DB of “healthy” eyes. The thicknesses of the global (G-) circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer and 3 of its quadrants [temporal (TQ), superior (SQ), and inferior (IQ)] were compared to the pre-screening 6.8K sample. Three anatomical parameters of the 4.9K RW-DB were also compared to the commercial reference database (RDB) of 398 eyes.[3]
Results :
For all 4 cpRNFL regions, the distributions for the 6.8K deviated significantly from a normal distribution [Kolmogorov–Smirnov (K-S): p<0.002 (G-), 0.01 (SQ), 0.0003 (TQ), 0.001 (IQ)], but after screening the 4.8K RW-DB did not (K-S p= 0.24, 0.12,0.06, 0.12). The slopes of thickness vs. age (Fig. 1) were nearly identical for the 4.9K RW-DB and 398 RDB. In addition, the means of 3 anatomical parameters associated with cpRNFL thickness differed between 0.5 and 1.7% for these two groups, although the extreme values were better represented in the 4.9K RW-DB. See Fig. 2A-F. However, the mean age (Fig. 2G,H) of the 4.9K RW-DW was older than that of the 398 RDB (48.5 vs 46.2 yrs, p=0.01).
Conclusions :
The results have implications for a RDB based upon a large RW-DB. The 4.9K RW-DB has relatively (Fig. 2H), and absolutely (Fig. 2G), more eyes over 60 and 70 years of age. The large sample allows for the assessment of key parameters, and/or of subgroups such as eyes with longer axial length associated with high myopia (Fig. 2A,B). In general, there are considerably more eyes in the lower 1%. This should allow for a better understanding of the differences between healthy eyes at the lower end of normal and eyes with disease, and potentially increase specificity in the clinic and in clinical trials.
1. Hood et al, OVS, 2023; 2. Hood et al. PRER, 2022; 3. Chaglasian et al (2018).
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.