Variability of the normalised rim/disc area quotient estimated by laser scanning tomography. A comparison with conventional planimetry.
BACKGROUND
The introduction of the laser scanning tomograph raises the possibility of the estimation of optic disc morphology in a less subjective and less time-consuming way than the conventional planimetry of fundus photography. The aim of the present study was to estimate the efficiency of the HRT method in a comparison of data collected in a glaucomatous patient group to planimetric data obtained in young normal volunteers.


METHODS
Repeated rim/disc area measurements were done in 10 glaucoma patients with a Heidelberg Retina Tomograph and in a group of five young volunteers with good vision. The intra-photographic, intra-observer examination of the planimetric method was compared to the inter-photographic assessment of the HRT technique.


RESULTS
The variability of the mean normalised area ratio quotient was nearly 50% less using laser scanning tomography techniques (mean rim/disc area ratio = 0.17).


CONCLUSIONS
The results show the superiority of HRT over the conventional planimetric technique. Furthermore, the much shorter processing time and the advantages of a computer-based databank in follow-up examination with HRT provides the hope that it could replace the rather time-consuming and subjective manual planimetric technique in the examination of glaucomatous optic nerve conditions.
Boros
A S
AS
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann Str 9. D-50931 Cologne, Germany. borosa@web.de
Jonescu-Cuypers
C P
CP
Bartz-Schmidt
K U
KU
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005260:Female; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*; D010781:Photography; D014054:Tomography