Effect of Head Tilt and Ocular Compensatory Mechanisms on Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Measurements by Cirrus Spectral Domain and Spectralis Optical Coherence Tomography in Normal Subjects

Glaucoma Detection Using Optical Coherence Tomography: Reviewing the Pitfalls of Comparison to Normative Data

PRCIS

Optical coherence tomography is essential in managing glaucoma. This review describes various artifacts that originate from using a normative database to compare the individual's scans. This is a review paper regarding artifacts in optical coherence tomography imaging for glaucoma arising from using a normative database as a reference for healthy retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer.

Asymmetry of Peripapillary Retinal Blood Vessel and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Between Healthy Right and Left Eyes

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is asymmetry in retinal blood vessel (RBV) position and thickness between right and left eyes (R-L) and evaluate whether R-L asymmetry in RBV thickness is related to R-L asymmetry of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT).

Methods

We analyzed peripapillary circle scan optical coherence tomography (OCT) examinations from healthy White subjects to measure RNFLT and RBV thickness and position relative to the fovea to Bruch's membrane opening axis, for all visible RBV. The R-L asymmetries of RNFLT and RBV thickness were computed for each A-scan. Four major vessels (superior temporal artery [STA] and superior temporal vein [STV], inferior temporal artery [ITA], and vein [ITV]) were identified using infrared images.

Results

We included 219 individuals. The mean (standard deviation) number of RBV measured per eye was 15.0 (SD = 2.2). The position of the STV and STA was more superior in left eyes than in right eyes, by 2.4 degrees and 3.7 degrees, respectively (P < 0.01). There was no region with significant R-L asymmetry in RBV thickness. RNFLT was thicker in right eyes in the temporal superior region and thicker in left eyes in the superior and nasal superior regions, with the asymmetry profile resembling in a "W" shape. This shape was also present in post hoc analyses in two different populations. The R-L asymmetries of RBV and RNFLT at each A-scan were not significantly associated (P = 0.37).

Conclusions

There is little R-L asymmetry in RBV, and it is not related to RNFLT asymmetry. This study suggests that R-L RNFLT asymmetry is due to factors other than RBV.

Difference between before and after Compensating for Cyclotorsion by Optical Coherence Tomography Guided Progression Analysis

Purpose: This study evaluated the difference in parameters before and after the application of optical coherence tomography (OCT) Guided Progression Analysis (GPA) to compensate for cyclotorsion during image acquisition.Methods: Among glaucomatous eyes with ≥4 OCT tests, eyes with correction for cyclotorsion in GPA printouts defined as rotated OCT fundus images were included. The degree of cyclotorsion (i.e., the degree of fundus image rotation), direction of cyclotorsion (incyclotorsion or excyclotorsion), difference in optic nerve head (ONH) parameters, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness before and after correction were analyzed.Results: Correction for cyclotorsion was seen in 33 of the 401 eyes (12.2%). Incyclotorsion was observed in 16 eyes (48.5%) and excyclotorsion in 17 (51.5%). The mean degree of cyclotorsion was 5.5 ± 2.3 degrees. The ONH parameters were unchanged after correcting for cyclotorsion. The mean overall, inferior, and superior quadrant RNFL thicknesses were 73.6 ± 14.8, 79.3 ± 26.3, and 90.1 ± 24.7 μm before correction and 73.6 ± 14.9, 79.6 ± 26.6, 89.7 ± 24.8 μm afterwards (p > 0.05). The difference in RNFL thickness after correction ranged from 0 to 6 μm.Conclusions: The difference in RNFL thickness before and after cyclotorsion correction by GPA was not large. GPA did not correct the ONH parameters induced by cyclotorsion. Regarding this, GPA algorithm improvements may be needed.

Reproducibility of Bruch Membrane Opening-Minimum Rim Width Measurements With Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

PURPOSE

To evaluate the reproducibility of Bruch membrane opening-minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) measurements obtained with Spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT) in normal and glaucoma subjects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In total, 123 eyes from 123 subjects (65 healthy, 58 glaucoma subjects) were included. BMO-MRW measurements were repeated 3 times during the same visit using Spectralis OCT. The BMO points and internal limiting membrane were identified with automated software and corrected manually when necessary. The intravisit repeatability, coefficient of variation (CV), and intraclass correlation coefficient were analyzed for each sector and global BMO-MRW. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient was used to estimate correlations between CV and multiple variables. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify significant associations.

RESULTS

The intravisit repeatability ranged from 2.97 μm (global) to 10.25 μm (inferotemporal sector) in healthy subjects and from 3.31 μm (global) to 12.09 μm (inferonasal sector) in glaucoma subjects. The CVs ranged from 1.17% (global) to 3.56% (inferotemporal sector) in healthy subjects and from 2.57% (global) to 6.46% (superotemporal and inferotemporal sector) in glaucoma subjects. Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.974 (superotemporal sector) to 0.997 (nasal sector) in normal subjects and from 0.988 (temporal sector) to 0.997 (global and nasal sector) in glaucoma subjects. Multiple regression analysis showed that the CV in global BMO-MRW measurements was inversely associated with global BMO-MRW and visual field mean deviation (P=0.001 and 0.002, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The Spectralis SD-OCT showed excellent reproducibility in BMO-MRW measurements in both normal and glaucoma subjects. The measurements variability was worse in more advanced glaucoma.

Green disease in optical coherence tomography diagnosis of glaucoma

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become an integral component of modern glaucoma practice. Utilizing color codes, OCT analysis has rendered glaucoma diagnosis and follow-up simpler and faster for the busy clinician. However, green labeling of OCT parameters suggesting normal values may confer a false sense of security, potentially leading to missed diagnoses of glaucoma and/or glaucoma progression.

RECENT FINDINGS

Conditions in which OCT color coding may be falsely negative (i.e., green disease) are identified. Early glaucoma in which retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and optic disc parameters, albeit labeled green, are asymmetric in both eyes may result in glaucoma being undetected. Progressively decreasing RNFL thickness may reveal the presence of progressive glaucoma that, because of green labeling, can be missed by the clinician. Other ocular conditions that can increase RNFL thickness can make the diagnosis of coexisting glaucoma difficult. Recently introduced progression analysis features of OCT may help detect green disease.

SUMMARY

Recognition of green disease is of paramount importance in diagnosing and treating glaucoma. Understanding the limitations of imaging technologies coupled with evaluation of serial OCT analyses, prompt clinical examination, and structure-function correlation is important to avoid missing real glaucoma requiring treatment.

Effect of Refractive Correction Error on Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness: A Spectralis Optical Coherence Tomography Study

Background

Identifying and assessing retinal nerve fiber layer defects are important for diagnosing and managing glaucoma. We aimed to investigate the effect of refractive correction error on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measured with Spectralis spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

Material/Methods

We included 68 participants: 32 healthy (normal) and 36 glaucoma patients. RNFL thickness was measured using Spectralis SD-OCT circular scan. Measurements were made with a refractive correction of the spherical equivalent (SE), the SE+2.00D and the SE–2.00D.

Results

Average RNFL thickness was significantly higher in the normal group (105.88±10.47 μm) than in the glaucoma group (67.67±17.27 μm, P<0.001). In the normal group, +2.00D of refractive correction error significantly affected measurements of average (P<0.001) and inferior quadrant (P=0.037) RNFL thickness. In the glaucoma group, +2.00D of refractive correction error significantly increased average (P<0.001) and individual quadrant (superior: P=0.016; temporal: P=0.004; inferior: P=0.008; nasal: P=0.003) RNFL measurements compared with those made with the proper refractive correction. However, −2.00D of refractive correction error did not significantly affect RNFL thickness measurements in either group.

Conclusions

Positive defocus error significantly affects RNFL thickness measurements made by the Spectralis SD-OCT. Negative defocus error did not affect RNFL measurement examined. Careful correction of refractive error is necessary to obtain accurate baseline and follow-up RNFL thickness measurements in healthy and glaucomatous eyes.