A Single Wide-Field OCT Protocol Can Provide Compelling Information for the Diagnosis of Early Glaucoma

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate a report for glaucoma diagnosis based on a single optical coherence tomography (OCT) protocol. METHODS: A wide-field (9 × 12 mm) swept-source (SS) OCT scan, encompassing the macula and disc, was obtained on 130 eyes (patients) with or suspected open-angle glaucoma, a mean deviation greater than or equal to -6 dB on a 24-2 visual field (VF), and spherical refractive error between ± 6 diopters (D). The single-page report contained a circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) thickness plot; retinal ganglion cell layer and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and probability plots of the macula and optic nerve; and an enface slab image of the optic nerve. A report specialist judged each eye as healthy (H); probably healthy (PH); forced-choice healthy (FC-H); optic neuropathy (ON); probably ON (PON); forced-choice optic neuropathy (FC-ON). Two glaucoma specialists made similar judgments about the presence of glaucomatous damage. The glaucoma specialists had 24-2 and 10-2 VFs, fundus photos, patient chart information, and the single-page report including the report specialist's interpretation. RESULTS: The reference standard consisted of 57 eyes judged as glaucomatous (ON or PON) and 45 eyes judged as healthy (H or PH) by both glaucoma specialists. The report specialist identified 56 of the glaucomatous eyes as optic neuropathy (i.e., ON, PON, or FC-ON), and 44 of the healthy eyes as healthy (i.e., H, PH, or FC-H), an accuracy of 98.0%. CONCLUSIONS: A single-page report based upon a single, wide-field OCT scan has the information needed to diagnose early glaucoma with excellent sensitivity/specificity. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: It is possible that screening for glaucoma can be effective with only a single OCT protocol.