Interobserver variability in optical coherence tomography for macular edema.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the interobserver variability of optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements in patients with macular edema.


METHODS
Noninterventional case series using a diagnostic instrument.


METHODS
Ordinary least products analysis of OCT data obtained by two masked observers from a set of 20 eyes from 10 patients.


METHODS
Private retina practice.


RESULTS
Foveal zone thickness measurements were operator dependent. Fixed and proportional bias was found between the two observers. Total macular volume measurements were independent of observers.


CONCLUSIONS
Foveal zone thickness measurements are not directly comparable across different observers, but total macular volume measurements are directly comparable. Multicenter studies involving OCT measurements and clinical users of OCT data will need to factor interobserver variability into conclusions drawn from pooled OCT foveal zone thickness measurements.
Browning
David J
DJ
Charlotte Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates, Charlotte, North Carolina 28210, USA. djbrowning@carolina.rr.com
D006801:Humans; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015588:Observer Variation; D010781:Photography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*