RESEARCH ARTICLE


Repeatability and Reproducibility of Macular Thickness Measurements Using Fourier Domain Optical Coherence Tomography



Alison Bruce1, Ian E Pacey1, Poonam Dharni1, Andy J Scally2, Brendan T Barrett*, 1
1 Bradford School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
2 Institute for Health Research, School of Health, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK


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Creative Commons License
© Bruce et al.; Licensee Bentham Open.

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/), which permits unrestrictive use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the Bradford School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Bradford, Richmond Road, Bradford BD71DP, UK; Tel: 01274 235589; Fax: 01274 235570; E-mail: b.t.barrett@bradford.ac.uk


Abstract

Aim: To evaluate repeatability and reproducibility of macular thickness measurements in visually normal eyes using the Topcon 3D OCT-1000.

Methods: Phase 1 investigated scan repeatability, the effect of age and pupil dilation. Two groups (6 younger and 6 older participants) had one eye scanned 5 times pre and post- dilation by 1 operator. Phase 2 investigated between-operator, within and between-visit reproducibility. 10 participants had 1 un-dilated eye scanned 3 times on 2 separate visits by 2 operators.

Results: Phase 1: No significant difference existed between repeat scans ( p = 0.75) and no significant difference was found pre- and post-dilation (p=0.54). In the younger group variation was low (95% limits ± 3.62 µm) and comparable across all retinal regions. The older group demonstrated greater variation (95% limits ± 7.6 µm).

Phase 2: For a given retinal location, 95% confidence limits for within-operator, within-visit reproducibility was 5.16 µm. This value increased to 5.56 µm for the same operator over two visits and to 6.18 µm for two operators over two visits.

Conclusion: A high level repeatability, close to 6 µm, of macular thickness measurement is possible using the 3D OCT- 1000. Measured differences in macular thickness between successive visits that exceed 6 µm in pre-presbyopic individuals are therefore likely to reflect actual structural change. OCT measures are more variable in older individuals and it is advisable to take a series of scans so that outliers can be more easily identified.

Keywords: Optical coherence tomography, retinal thickness, macula, image analysis, repeatability, reproducibility.