Comparison of the Thickness of the Fiber Layer of the Retinal Nerves in Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography in Normal Eyes Older Than 40 Years

Abstract

Purpose To compare measurements of the thickness of the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and assess the agreement between three different devices for spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

Material and Methods The RNFL thickness of both eyes of 23 normal subjects older than 40 years was measured using Canon HS100, Topcon Maestro, and NIDEK RS-3000 devices. Both eyes of each subject were scanned in random order. All scans were completed on the same day in the morning. The average and four quadrants (superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal) of RNFL thickness were measured. To determine the differences in RNFL thickness, analysis of variance for repeated measurements was performed. A Bland-Altman plot was plotted, and coefficients of determination were calculated.

Results A total of 46 eyes of 23 subjects were enrolled in this study. The average RNFL thickness as determined by the three OCT devices was correlated (p < 0.001), but differed significantly between the three devices, as most were quadrant measurements. The mean average RNFL thickness was 98.5 ± 6.6 µm as measured by Canon HS100, 108.5 ± 8.8 µm as measured by Topcon Maestro, and 104.9 ± 9.0 µm as measured by NIDEK RS-3000. Topcon Maestro showed the highest average RNFL thickness value. Bland-Altman plots revealed considerable agreement among the three devices, except for the inferior quadrants between Topcon Maestro and NIDEK RS-3000 measurements. All three devices reveal considerable coefficients of determination values for mean RNFL thickness (0.917 – 0.127).

Conclusion Although the peripapillary RNFL thickness measurements taken with Canon HS100, Topcon Maestro, and NIDEK RS-3000 were in good agreement, they were not interchangeable in clinical practice, as the values differed significantly.

Zusammenfassung

Zweck Vergleich der Dickenmessungen der retinalen Nervenfaserschicht (RNFL) und Bewertung der Übereinstimmung zwischen 3 verschiedenen optischen Kohärenztomografiegeräten im Spektralbereich.

Material und Methoden Die RNFL-Dicke beider Augen von 23 gesunden Probanden war älter als 40 Jahre, gemessen mit Canon-HS100-, Topcon-Maestro- und NIDEK-RS-3000-Geräten. Beide Augen jedes Probanden wurden in zufälliger Reihenfolge gescannt. Alle Scans wurden am selben Tag am Morgen abgeschlossen. Die durchschnittliche RNFL-Dicke und die 4 Quadranten (superior, inferior, nasal und temporal) der RNFL-Dicke wurden gemessen. Um die Unterschiede in der RNFL-Dicke zu bestimmen, wurde eine Varianzanalyse für wiederholte Messungen durchgeführt. Ein Bland-Altman-Plot wurde grafisch dargestellt und die Bestimmungskoeffizienten wurden berechnet.

Ergebnisse Insgesamt 46 Augen von 23 Probanden wurden in diese Studie eingeschlossen. Die durchschnittliche RNFL-Dicke, die von den 3 OCT-Geräten bestimmt wurde, korrelierte (p < 0,001), unterschied sich jedoch signifikant zwischen den 3 Geräten, da die meisten Quadrantenmessungen waren. Die durchschnittliche RNFL-Dicke betrug 98,5 ± 6,6 µm, gemessen mit Canon HS100, 108,5 ± 8,8 µm, gemessen mit Topcon Maestro, und 104,9 ± 9,0 µm, gemessen mit NIDEK RS-3000. Topcon Maestro zeigte den höchsten durchschnittlichen RNFL-Dickenwert. Bland-Altman-Plots zeigten eine beträchtliche Übereinstimmung zwischen den 3 Geräten mit Ausnahme der unteren Quadranten zwischen Topcon-Maestro- und NIDEK-RS-3000-Messungen. Alle 3 Geräte zeigen beachtliche Bestimmtheitsmaße für die mittlere RNFL-Dicke (0,917 – 0,127).

Schlussfolgerung Die peripapillären RNFL-Dickenmessungen mit Canon HS100, Topcon Maestro und NIDEK RS-3000 stimmten zwar gut überein, sind aber nicht für eine Austauschbarkeit in der klinischen Praxis geeignet, da ein signifikanter Unterschied der Werte besteht.

Key words

retinal nerve fiber layer - spectral domain optical coherence tomography - agreement

Schlüsselwörter

Netzhautnervenfaserschicht - optische Kohärenztomografie mit spektraler Domäne - Übereinstimmung

Publication History

Received: 08 June 2021

Accepted: 05 July 2021

Article published online:
15 September 2021

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