title: Spectral domain optical coherence tomography in glaucoma: qualitative and quantitative analysis of the optic nerve head and retinal nerve fiber layer (an AOS thesis).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate that video-rate spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) can qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate optic nerve head (ONH) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) glaucomatous structural changes. To correlate quantitative SDOCT parameters with disc photography and visual fields.
  
  
  METHODS
  SDOCT images from 4 glaucoma eyes (4 patients) with varying stages of open-angle glaucoma (ie, early, moderate, late) were qualitatively contrasted with 2 age-matched normal eyes (2 patients). Of 61 other consecutive patients recruited in an institutional setting, 53 eyes (33 patients) met inclusion/exclusion criteria for quantitative studies. Images were obtained using two experimental SDOCT systems, one utilizing a superluminescent diode and the other a titanium:sapphire laser source, with axial resolutions of about 6 microm and 3 microm, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Classic glaucomatous ONH and RNFL structural changes were seen in SDOCT images. An SDOCT reference plane 139 microm above the retinal pigment epithelium yielded cup-disc ratios that best correlated with masked physician disc photography cup-disc ratio assessments. The minimum distance band, a novel SDOCT neuroretinal rim parameter, showed good correlation with physician cup-disc ratio assessments, visual field mean deviation, and pattern standard deviation (P values range, .0003-.024). RNFL and retinal thickness maps correlated well with disc photography and visual field testing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this thesis presents the first comprehensive qualitative and quantitative evaluation of SDOCT images of the ONH and RNFL in glaucoma. This pilot study provides basis for developing more automated quantitative SDOCT-specific glaucoma algorithms needed for future prospective multicenter national trials.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Glaucoma Service, Harvard Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Teresa C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004867:Equipment Design; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*; D010781:Photography; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000266:history / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D014794:Visual Fields