Detection of changes of the optic disc in glaucomatous eyes: clinical examination and image analysis with the Topcon Imagenet system.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to evaluate the clinical agreement in the detection of optic disc changes and the ability of computerized image analysis to detect glaucomatous deterioration of the optic disc.


METHODS
Pairs of stereophotographs of 35 glaucomatous optic discs taken 5 years apart and of 5 glaucomatous discs photographed twice on the same day. Two glaucoma specialists examined the pairs of stereophotographs (35 cases and 5 controls) in a masked manner and judged whether the optic disc showed changes in the optic disc compatible with progression of glaucomatous damage. The stereophotographs of the five optic discs photographed twice on the same day (which by definition did not change) and of five cases judged to have deteriorated by both glaucoma specialists were analyzed by computerized image analysis with the Topcon ImageNet system. Intra- and inter-observer agreement in the detection of optic disc changes (evaluated using kappa statistic), and changes in the rim area to disc area ratio (evaluated using descriptive statistics and paired t-test).


RESULTS
Intra-observer agreement had a kappa value of 0.75 for observer 1 and 0.60 for the observer 2. Inter-observer agreement between the glaucoma specialists had a kappa value of 0.60. The image analyzer did not discriminate between controls and cases with clinically apparent glaucomatous change of the optic disc.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical agreement in detecting changes in the optic disc was moderate to substantial. Computerized image analysis with the Topcon ImageNet system appeared not to be useful in detecting glaucomatous changes of the optic disc.
Azuara-Blanco
A
A
Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. aazblanco@aol.com
Katz
L J
LJ
Spaeth
G L
GL
Nicholl
J
J
Lanzl
I M
IM
D018450:Disease Progression; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D015588:Observer Variation; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010781:Photography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology