title: Anterior chamber cell grading by optical coherence tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify cells in the ocular anterior chamber (AC) by optical coherence tomography (OCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  A time-domain anterior segment OCT system was used to image latex microsphere suspensions in vitro and the AC of uveitis and normal subjects in vivo. The OCT scan pattern, consisting of 2- and 4-mm-diameter concentric circular scans, was divided into central, superior, and inferior regions. A computer algorithm was developed to automatically identify particles in OCT images. A uveitis specialist used slit-lamp biomicroscopy to grade the AC cells on a scale of 0 to 4+.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Latex microspheres and ac cells were visualized as reflective spots in oct images. OCT latex microsphere concentration measurements were highly correlated to known particle concentrations (r = 1.000) and had an efficiency of 0.72. in 30 nongranulomatous and 12 granulomatous eyes, the OCT cell counts correlated well with slit-lamp grades in all three regions (Spearman's rho coefficient: >0.63). The average OCT cell count was 3.7 cells/grade in nongranulomatous eyes and 2.0 cells/grade in granulomatous eyes. OCT revealed significant amounts of inferior AC cells in 5 of 16 quiescent uveitis eyes (mean ± SD: 19.9 ± 7.4 cells). OCT captured rare cells in normal eyes (1.1 ± 1.1 cells centrally).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OCT provided quantitative information on AC inflammatory cells. The OCT cell counts correlated well with clinical grading, and particles in the inferior AC that were missed by slit-lamp examination were detected by OCT. OCT could be a valuable tool for the diagnosis and management of anterior uveitis.
authors.affiliation: Center for Ophthalmic Optics and Lasers, Casey Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Careen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lowder
authors.forename: Xinbo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000166:cytology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002452:Cell Count; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006099:Granuloma / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008863:Microspheres; D011446:Prospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014606:Uveitis, Anterior / Q000473:pathology