title: Transition from film to digital fundus photography in the Longitudinal Studies of the Ocular Complications of AIDS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the transition to digital imaging and assess any impact on ocular disease classification.
  
  
  METHODS
  Film and digital images, acquired by certified photographers, were evaluated independently according to standard procedures for the following: image quality, presence of cytomegalovirus retinitis lesions, and their extent and proximity from disk and macula. Intergrader agreement within the digital medium was also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 15 eyes with cytomegalovirus retinitis, the mean difference between film and digital images for linear distance of lesion edge to disk was 0.02 disk diameters, for distance to center of macula was -0.04 disk diameters, and area covered by cytomegalovirus retinitis was 0.95 disk area. There was no statistically significant difference in distance and area measurements between media. Intergrader agreement in measurements of digital images was excellent for distance and area estimated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that digital grading of cytomegalovirus retinitis in Longitudinal Studies of the Ocular Complications of AIDS is comparable with that from film regarding disease classification, measurements, and reproducibility. These findings provide support for continuity of grading data, despite the necessary transition in imaging media.
authors.affiliation: Fundus Photograph Reading Center, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53717, USA.
authors.forename: Sapna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gangaputra
authors.forename: Jeong Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Pak
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Larry D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Hubbard
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thayer
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Krason
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joyce
authors.forename: Ronald P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Danis
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015588:Observer Variation; D010781:Photography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology