Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To determine the reproducibility of retinal thickness measurements in normal eyes using optical coherence tomography (OCT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Multiple 3.20-mm vertical cross-sectional images through the center of fixation of consecutive patients with normal results on ocular examinations were obtained. Each image was divided into seven 320-μm segments. Regional retinal thicknesses for each section were measured using both the manually assisted (requiting observer localization of reflectivity peaks) and the automated modes (observer-independent measurement) of the computer software. RESULTS: Eighteen right eyes were studied. The mean coefficient of variation was less than 10% for all locations using the manually assisted method (average standard deviation less than 17 μm [range 9 to 16 μm]). The automated method was less reliable, with a coefficient of variation greater than 10% for locations within 500 μm of fixation. Automated measurements at fixation were the least reproducible because of poor internal limiting membrane reflectivity. CONCLUSION: OCT is capable of reproducible measurement of retinal thickness in normal eyes. Computer- driven, automated measurement of retinal thickness within 500 μm of fixation need to be refined and its reproducibility reassessed in this region.
| Original language | English |
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| Pages (from-to) | 280-285 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Ophthalmic Surgery and Lasers |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| State | Published - Apr 1998 |