Automated segmentation of the optic disc from stereo color photographs using physiologically plausible features.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a novel automated segmentation algorithm for cup-to-disc segmentation from stereo color photographs of patients with glaucoma for the measurement of glaucoma progression.


METHODS
Stereo color photographs of the optic disc were obtained by using a fixed stereo-base fundus camera in 58 eyes of 58 patients with suspected or open-angle glaucoma. Manual planimetry was performed by three glaucoma faculty members to delineate a reference standard rim and cup segmentation of all stereo pairs and by three glaucoma fellows as well. Pixel feature classification was evaluated on the stereo pairs and corresponding reference standard, by using feature computation based on simulation of photoreceptor color opponency and visual cortex simple and complex cells. An optimal subset of 12 features was used to segment all pixels in all stereo pairs, and the percentage of pixels assigned the correct class and linear cup-to-disc ratio (LCDR) estimates of the glaucoma fellows and the algorithm were compared to the reference standard.


RESULTS
The algorithm was able to assign cup, rim, and background correctly to 88% of all pixels. Correlations of the LCDR estimates of glaucoma fellows with those of the reference standard were 0.73 (95% CI, 0.58-0.83), 0.81 (95% CI, 0.70-0.89), and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.78-0.91), respectively, whereas the correlation of the algorithm with the reference standard was 0.93 (95% CI, 0.89-0.96; n = 58).


CONCLUSIONS
The pixel feature classification algorithm allows objective segmentation of the optic disc from conventional color stereo photographs automatically without human input. The performance of the disc segmentation and LCDR calculation of the algorithm was comparable to that of glaucoma fellows in training and is promising for objective evaluation of optic disc cupping.
Abràmoff
Michael D
MD
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. michael-abramoff@uiowa.edu
Alward
Wallace L M
WL
Greenlee
Emily C
EC
Shuba
Lesya
L
Kim
Chan Y
CY
Fingert
John H
JH
Kwon
Young H
YH
D000465:Algorithms; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010781:Photography / Q000379:methods*