The comparability of estimates of retroilluminated lens opacities as judged from film-based and digital imaging.
OBJECTIVE
Neitz film-based retroillumination cameras, the standard for documenting retroilluminated lens opacities for epidemiologic studies, are no longer produced. A digital imaging system is now available for imaging these opacities. We sought to compare gradings of images from both systems.


METHODS
Comparison of technique.


METHODS
One hundred fourteen lenses were imaged with both systems and graded according to protocols. Concordance between the methods was compared using kappa statistics.


RESULTS
There was moderate concordance for cortical opacities (kappa = 0.63) and good concordance for posterior subcapsular opacities (kappa = 0.83). Grades from digital images slightly underestimated the frequency and severity of cortical cataract.


CONCLUSIONS
Digital imaging of retroilluminated lens opacities results in similar classification of the severity of opacities. It will be useful for epidemiologic studies of cortical (CC) and posterior subcapsular cataracts (PSC).
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, Wisconsin 53726, USA. kleinb@epi.ophth.wisc.edu <kleinb@epi.ophth.wisc.edu>
Barbara E K
BE
Klein
Ronald
R
Klein
Ellen R
ER
Hall
Kristine E
KE
Lee
Karl
K
Jensen
D002386:Cataract / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology*; D010781:Photography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted