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Abstract #18953 Published in IGR 3-1
Reliability and precision of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurements: comparison of OCT to NFA
Klemm M; Rumberger E; Winter R; Walter A; Richard GSpektrum der Augenheilkunde 2000; 14: 301-305
BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is associated with a progressive loss of retinal ganglion cell axons, and the evaluation of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness is important for early diagnosis and follow-ups. Results of RNFL thickness measurements may vary according to the respective devices used. Therefore, the present study has analyzed and compared the reproducibility of data obtained with two different instruments. METHODS: RNFL thickness was determined by a circular identification line around the optic nerve head by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and nerve fiber analysis (NFA). Each eye was tested six times. The values of RNFL thickness were calculated for the superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal areas. A one-way analysis of variance with random effects was chosen to estimate the variance components. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) as a measure of reliability, and the coefficient of variation (CV%) as a measure of precision were determined to estimate the reproducibility of RNFL thickness measurements. RESULTS: With both instruments, the reproducibility of measurements between the superior, inferior, temporal, and nasal areas did not differ significantly, suggesting that reproducibility does not depend on the size of RNFL thickness. Data obtained by NFA showed ICC values of about 0.9 and CV% values of about 7.0. A markedly lower degree of reproducibility was found for the OCT (ICC: 0.5; CV%: 15). CONCLUSIONS: The comparison of RNFL thickness measurements with OCT and NFA showed that the NFA yielded more reliable results for RNFL thickness measurements than OCT. LA: German
Dr M. Klemm, Universitaetsaugenklinik Hamburg, Martinistrasse 52, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany
Classification:
2.13 Retina and retinal nerve fibre layer (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)
