Spectral domain optical coherence tomography in diabetic macular edema

To compare the images obtained from Stratus time domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc., Dublin, CA) and Cirrus spectral domain OCT (Cirrus HD-OCT 4000 model; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.) in patients with diabetic macular edema.

This observational retrospective case series was created using the charts of 20 patients with diabetes mellitus diagnosed as having diabetic macular edema. All patients had both Stratus and Cirrus OCT imaging completed on the same day. Qualitative comparisons were performed by two experienced clinicians in an unmasked fashion. Central macular thickness and central foveal thickness were recorded.

Thirty-six eyes of 20 patients with diabetes mellitus were analyzed. Features such as cystoid spaces, highly reflective lesions, vitreoretinal interface, serous retinal detachment, and photoreceptors inner/outer segments were more often detected with the Cirrus OCT than with the Stratus OCT. Considering the same reference lines for evaluation of central macular thickness and central foveal thickness, the same values were obtained with both devices.

Cirrus OCT enables easier observation of normal structures and retinal abnormalities than the Status OCT. Furthermore, lesions may be accurately identified and quantified by the Cirrus OCT.