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Quality of OCT data affects analysis
SAN FRANCISCO — Before accepting optical coherence tomography imaging output as ready for interpretation, the quality of the data needs to be assessed by doing a quick and careful scan analysis, a speaker said here.
"Critically analyze the quality of data from imaging devices before interpreting the data," Vikas Chopra, MD, said in a presentation foreshadowing the pitfalls of OCT imaging at Glaucoma Day preceding the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.
Three important parameters that can affect interpretation of a scan are signal strength, centration on the optic disc and scan alignment.
"Only after looking at the scan parameters can we look at the retinal nerve fiber layer and the optic nerve head to make a determination," Chopra said.
For example, a low signal scan can show falsely low retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, centration errors can lead to false localized retinal nerve fiber layer thickness defects, and poor scan alignment during scan acquisition may miss data points. Scan misalignment can result in a poor quality scan even when signal strength is adequate, he said.
Disclosure: Chopra is a research consultant for Allergan.