A comparison of cup-to-disc ratio measurement in normal subjects using optical coherence tomography image analysis of the optic nerve head and stereo fundus biomicroscopy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationships between morphometric optic nerve head (ONH) characteristics defined using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and clinical judgments of cup-to-disc (CD) ratios.


METHODS
CD ratios were estimated in 20 subjects by two experienced clinicians using stereo fundus biomicroscopy. Sagittal OCT images were obtained in positions defined by clinicians corresponding to the location of their horizontal and vertical CD ratio estimates. To estimate CD ratios using the OCT images, disc width was defined as the separation of the terminations of the retinal pigment epithelium on each side of the image. OCT cup widths were determined using two criteria: the first measured the separation of cup walls halfway down each side and the second estimated the separation 1/3 down each side. Cups that were less than 150 microm deep were defined as flat for the OCT images. Data were analysed using mean and standard deviation of the differences between clinical estimates and imaging techniques as well as using intraclass correlations (ICC).


RESULTS
Between techniques, the range of ICCs for the 1/2 depth criterion was 0.74-0.90 and for the 1/3 criterion was 0.59-0.81. The limits of agreement for the 1/2 criterion were also better than the 1/3 criterion.


CONCLUSIONS
Accurate measures of CD ratio may be derived from OCT ONH images. Estimates of clinical CD ratios in normal subjects appear to be made using depth judgments closer to 1/2 of the way down the cup than 1/3.
Hrynchak
Patricia
P
School of Optometry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada. hrynchak@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca
Hutchings
Natalie
N
Jones
Deborah
D
Simpson
Trefford
T
D000328:Adult; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence