Intraobserver variability in optical coherence tomography.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the intraobserver variability of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with clinically stable maculas.


METHODS
Retrospective, observational case series using a diagnostic instrument.


METHODS
Retrospective study. setting. Private retina practice. patient population. Twenty-two eyes of 19 patients, each studied twice within 4 months. observation procedure. Optical coherence tomograph measurements of the macula obtained by two photographers. main outcome measures. Ordinary least products (OLP) and Bland-Altman analysis of OCT data.


RESULTS
No fixed or proportional bias was detected in foveal zone thickness and total macular volume between measurements of either of the OCT operators. The coefficient of repeatability for foveal zone thickness was 37.0 microm for photographer 1 and 34.8 microm for photographer 2. The coefficient of repeatability for total macular volume was 0.29 mm(3) for photographer 1 and 0.10 mm(3) for photographer 2.


CONCLUSIONS
Foveal zone thickness and total macular volume measurements show low intraobserver variability when analyzed by OLP and Bland-Altman techniques. Bounds are given for foveal zone thickness and total macular volume for which longitudinal OCT measurements by the same operator can be considered to reflect natural history or intervention effects rather than intraobserver variability.
Browning
David J
DJ
Charlotte Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates, Charlotte, NC 28210, USA. djbrowning@carolina.rr.com
Fraser
Christina M
CM
D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D010781:Photography; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*