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Retinal nerve fiber layer assessment using optical coherence tomography with active optic nerve head tracking
Hiroshi Ishikawa1, Michelle L Gabriele, Gadi Wollstein
1UPMC Eye Center, Eye and Ear Institute, Ophthalmology and Visual Science Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA. ishikawah@upmc.edu
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|March 1, 2006
Summary
A new eye-motion-tracking system for optical coherence tomography (OCT) improves scan registration consistency. However, this tracking technology did not significantly enhance the reproducibility of nerve fiber layer (NFL) thickness measurements in this study.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Imaging
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Accurate measurement of the retinal nerve fiber layer (NFL) thickness is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring glaucoma.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a key imaging modality for NFL assessment.
- Motion artifacts during OCT scanning can affect image quality and measurement reproducibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and integrate an eye-motion-tracking system into a commercial OCT device.
- To evaluate the impact of this tracking system on image registration and NFL thickness measurement reproducibility.
Main Methods:
- An eye-tracking system was integrated into a commercial OCT unit.
- Peripapillary NFL scans were acquired from healthy subjects and glaucoma patients, with and without eye tracking.
- Image registration quality and NFL thickness measurement reproducibility were assessed across multiple sessions.
Main Results:
- The eye-tracking system reduced motion artifacts and improved the clarity of fundus features.
- Scan registration consistency was enhanced with the tracking system.
- No significant difference in NFL thickness measurement reproducibility (intra- and intersession) was observed with or without tracking.
Conclusions:
- A functional retinal-tracking system was successfully developed and integrated with OCT.
- While tracking improved scan registration, it did not significantly enhance NFL thickness measurement reproducibility in this study.
- Further research with larger sample sizes may be warranted to fully elucidate the benefits of tracking OCT.